Rochester woman sentenced to prison for hiding corpse, stealing Social Security benefits

Posted by
1 min read
July 18, 2025
A Rochester woman was sentenced to prison for hiding her boyfriend’s body in a bin for months while collecting nearly $9,000 in benefits meant for him.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester woman was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in federal prison after admitting to concealing the death of a man to illegally collect his government benefits, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced.

Wendy Stone, 63, pleaded guilty to one count of conversion and unlawful conveyance of government money. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

According to court documents, Stone discovered the body of Victim 1, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), at their Rochester residence shortly after his death on December 28, 2022. Instead of notifying authorities, she moved the body to the basement, wrapped it in plastic, placed it in a recycling bin, and periodically poured bleach over it to mask the odor.

From January to September 2023, Stone used the deceased man’s debit card and Social Security number to activate a new card and withdraw $7,902 in SSI benefits. She also falsely recertified for SNAP benefits in February 2023, claiming the man still lived with her, resulting in an additional $1,072 in improperly obtained assistance.

The body remained hidden in the basement for approximately nine months before being discovered in September 2023.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani prosecuted the case.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version