A Colorado husband and wife are accused of concealing the death of the third member of their “intimate” relationship to keep drawing his federal benefits. Authorities allege the couple kept the man’s remains inside a Lakewood apartment for roughly 18 months, an investigation now centered on Social Security fraud, debit card fraud, and related financial crime offenses.
James David Agnew, 55, and Suzanne Ruth Agnew, 57, are each charged with tampering with a deceased human body and abuse of a corpse, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Additional counts target alleged financial misconduct: the husband faces theft by larceny over $2,000, unauthorized use of a financial transaction device over $2,000, and two counts of introducing contraband into a correctional facility. The wife is charged with theft between $5,000 and $20,000 and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device in the same range.
The case surfaced in late June when the brother of James O’Neill, 62, asked Lakewood Police for a welfare check, saying the family hadn’t seen him since 2019 and last spoke in 2021. At the South Ammons Street apartment, officers encountered a man who identified himself as “James,” according to the affidavit.
The brother later told police the person in the body‑camera image wasn’t O’Neill, stating, “Robert said this is not his brother.” The affidavit adds: “Agents later were able to identify this male as James Agnew but based on the conversation he appeared to be implying that he was James O’Neill.”
Initially, the couple allegedly resisted entry and offered shifting accounts, at one point describing O’Neill as “missing.” They also said he had moved out after meeting “some foreign woman online.”
Days later, during a phone call about an “inheritance that needed to be deposited” into O’Neill’s bank account, the couple allegedly suggested O’Neill was back in the residence but still refused to put him on the phone. After learning O’Neill would need to be physically present for the deposit, they “immediately stopped talking to him,” the affidavit says.
Using details the couple provided, O’Neill’s brother reviewed the account and found “regular” activity, including a $967 monthly Social Security deposit, an overdraft near $200, and “numerous ATM withdrawals,” according to police.
Investigators obtained surveillance from a 7‑Eleven tied to those withdrawals and say images show James Agnew completing transactions around the timestamps.
In early July, Agnew was arrested on an unrelated warrant. Detectives then contacted Suzanne Agnew and advised they had a search warrant. According to the affidavit: “She said she understood and immediately told me we would find James O’Neill’s body in the residence, indicating he was deceased.”
The officer added: “I let other detectives know and then came back out to Suzanne to provide her with a Miranda Advisement. Suzanne indicated she understood the advisement and agreed to continue speaking with me at the station. Detectives searching the residence did find the body of a deceased male, presumed to be James O’Neill.”
During her interview, Suzanne referred to the deceased as “Jim” and said the three had “been in a three way relationship” for years. The affidavit notes, “She said they’ve lived together for many years and have had an intimate relationship with the three of them involved.”
She also acknowledged it was wrong not to report the death, repeatedly stating “it was wrong” and that she initially refused to “give up” the man. She explained: “I asked Suzanne about when they decided to cover up his body and she said after about a week the chihuahuas began ‘chewing’ on him so she covered him with a deflated air mattress to try to keep them away.”
A separate interview states the husband admitted using O’Neill’s debit card, saying he had long possessed the PIN.
Cause of Death and Amount in Dispute
Detectives do not suspect homicide. The affidavit indicates O’Neill likely died in December 2023 due to a medical condition and/or drug use. Investigators estimate the couple accessed $17,406 in Social Security funds over the 18‑month period.
The affidavit continues: “James had less to say about Jim’s passing but provided a similar account.” It adds: “He didn’t remember exactly when Jim died but said he recalled it and could tell he was deceased. He didn’t initially provide reasoning as to why the police were not contacted but later told me he was aware of the SSI income that went into Jim’s account and said that was definitely a consideration in deciding whether or not to report his death.”
The case’s disturbing detail ‘Chihuahuas began chewing on him’ comes directly from the affidavit and underscores the condition of the remains found inside the apartment. The broader investigation blends Social Security fraud allegations with corpse abuse and tampering counts, offenses that routinely involve specialized financial fraud investigation teams and can prompt consultations with a criminal defense attorney.
