Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania couple accused of living with dead relative for months to cash his Social Security checks
A Pennsylvania couple is accused of living with their dead relative for months to reap the benefits of his Social Security checks.
The Greene Washington Regional Police Department said James and Debbie Bebout of Canton Township were arrested in the death of James Bebout’s brother, Michael Bebout.
Police paperwork details allegations
According to police paperwork, authorities received a call on Jan. 16 from James Bebout, who said he went to serve his brother breakfast when he found him “stiff as a board.” When officers arrived at the home on Hayes Avenue for a welfare check, DeForte said several red flags were raised.
“Instead of finding the decedent that would have passed away within the last 24 hours, we found the decedent in a state of severe decomposition,” DeForte said.
DeForte said an investigation revealed Michael Bebout had been dead for about six months.
“You have two defendants that we believe knew the decedent had passed that were more interested in reaping the benefits of a governmental check and access to a warm home than they were providing some type of moral and ethical solution to their relative passing,” DeForte said.
During an interview with Debbie Bebout, investigators said she allegedly admitted to knowing Michael Bebout had been dead since around October but did not contact anybody.
“Debbie stated she cashed several of Michael’s $1,200/month Social Security checks in order to pay for food. Debbie stated she was concerned about getting kicked out of the house if Michael was known to have died,” police paperwork stated.
“What we found throughout the investigation was roughly a half a dozen Social Security checks that were cashed by the defendants,” DeForte said.
During an interview with police, Debbie Bebout later admitted to officers that she “actually noticed that her brother-in-law, Michael Bebout, dead around Labor Day 2024.”
She also allegedly told officers that she pretended to take care of Michael Bebout every day so her husband would not find out.
Neighbors say it smelled “awful” outside the home
“We believe, through our investigation, that both defendants were well aware that the decedent was decomposing in the house with them. The smell was so pungent that you could smell it outside of the home prior to entry,” DeForte.
Neighbors described the couple as “bad news” and said that they knew something was wrong when it began to smell outside.
“We smelled an awful smell. We called the gas company, thinking it was a gas leak. Here, it wasn’t a gas leak. It was him. They always had a window cracked, to let the smell out, apparently,” Samuel Burgess said.
Burgess said he was friends with Michael Bebout and knew he had been sick before his death.
“He was a sweetheart. He would do anything for anyone. He would give you his last dollar, his shoes, his shirt, anything. He was a perfect gentleman,” Burgess said.
Dead animals found inside home
Burgess said Michael Bebout had a dog that he loved that also lived in the home.
“There was a little dog. I don’t know what happened to the little dog. He might be in there dead also, yeah, because Michael had a little black puppy dog,” Burgess said.
DeForte said that several dead animals were found inside the home.
“When we conducted the welfare check, we had noticed dead animals that were also severely decomposed throughout the house, that would also have been accompanied by a lot of garbage. A lot of clutter,” DeForte said.
“To have something like this happen in society today is an absolute violation of the human construct. This is both morally and ethically reprehensible,” DeForte said. “In over three decades of my law enforcement career, I have never witnessed something as macabre as what we saw inside of that residence.”
TRANSFER, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Sandra “Sandy” J. Kulka, age 68, of Transfer, Pennsylvania, passed away on Friday, April 24th, 2026, peacefully.
She was born June 24th, 1956, in Mercer, Pennsylvania, to Gerald Stainbrook and Violet (Patton) Stainbrook.
Sandy was a graduate of Hickory High School.
She was a homemaker and later in life worked as a custodian at Hermitage School District until her retirement. She enjoyed spending time with her five grandchildren and beloved pets, Teddy and Bella.
Sandy is survived by her three children, April Redfoot and her husband Daniel, Becky Kulka and Samuel Kulka, all of Greenville, Pennsylvania; a brother, Dennis Stainbrook and his wife, Margaret Kern of Transfer, Pennsylvania; and her five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Kulka; her sister, Gail Hall; and her parents, Gerald and Violet Stainbrook.
In following Sandy’s wishes there will be no services.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Strayhaven Animal Shelter, 94 Donation Road, Greenville, PA 16125
John Flynn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is serving the family with arrangements.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sandra J Kulka, please visit our floral store.
Pennsylvania
Target of Action News Investigation Agrees to settlement with Pennsylvania attorney general
The target of an Action News Investigation in 2022 has agreed to a settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Florida-based MV Realty was accused of offering homeowners, many of whom are low-income, a few hundred bucks.
In return, the company would get exclusive rights for the opportunity to sell the properties for a 3% commission.
But many homeowners claim they were unaware there was a 40-year life to the agreement, and mortgages were placed on their homes.
They would also be forced to pay the fee in the event they transferred properties to loved ones.
“I could’ve jumped out of the chair and did a little dance,” said Latrelle Fuller to Action News Investigative Reporter Chad Pradelli upon learning of the settlement.
We first met her in 2022 after she entered into an agreement with MV Realty for $500.
She says she was unable to get a home equity loan on her paid-off house because of MV Realty’s mortgage.
Her neighbor, Carolyn Brown, had to pay $6,000 dollars to MV Realty to get a loan on her home. She, too, entered into an agreement with MV Realty several years ago.
“They told me that I have to do this or they would not give me the loan,” Brown says.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called MV Realty’s actions reprehensible.
“So as a result of the settlement, all 1,300 mortgages that were entered into in Pennsylvania are going to be cancelled, ” he said in an exclusive interview earlier this week.
Action News Investigation: Real estate company accused of deceptive practices
Rosetta Loper Grant, who is selling her Oxford Circle home, signed onto the agreement offered by MV Realty. But then in May, she started second-guessing her decision.
He says the Action News Investigation led to his office taking action by his predecessor, now-Governor Josh Shapiro. The investigative team dug through city property records to uncover the MV Realty mortgages.
He says the company will pay $645,000 in restitution under the settlement so homeowners like Brown will get their money back.
The owner of MV Realty, former reality TV personality Amanda Zachman, has not responded to requests for comment.
“I know what it’s like to work unbelievably hard for what you have and to take it in such a misleading way from consumers, especially to Target low-income communities, is disgusting to me, ” Sunday said.
If you were a victim of MV Realty and paid the company fees to sell or transfer a property, reach out to the AG’s office online.
You can also email the complaint or call 1-800-441-2555.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Pennsylvania
Catchy chemistry: Pennsylvania musician sings songs about the periodic table of elements
Bethlehem, Pa — A Pennsylvania musician is making the periodic table of elements fun!
George Hrab and his band, The George HraBand, sing about all 118 elements in the periodic table in his show, “Occasional Songs For The Periodic Table.”
As they go through the table of elements, there are various musical styles, from reggae to heavy metal.
“So heavy metal fans and reggae fans will then appreciate and learn about protactinium or learn about einsteinium,” explains Hrab.
“It’s sort of a fun opportunity to teach people a little bit of something.”
The project started as a way to get Hrab out of a writers block and he never expected it to turn into something more.
“And before I knew it, I had like 50 done and then 60 and an 80 and then 100,” says Hrab. “And then I finished them all off and hoped that someday I’d be able to play them live with a band.”
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