A Michigan woman who lived for months with the corpse of a companion has pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors that is expected to keep her out of prison.
Seventy-two-year-old Linda Chase of Jackson pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of fraud, in exchange for dismissal of a forgery charge for cashing $28,000 in checks belonging to 67-year-old Charles Zigler.
Zigler's remains were found July 6 in a chair in the living room of their house.
Police say he died of natural causes in December 2010. Mlive.com reports that District Judge Michael Klaeren says the plea means Chase will probably get probation.
Defense lawyer Jerry Engle says the plea deal gets Chase into mental health court and in line for treatment that his client likely needs.
