In a shocking case of fraud and deception, a Kansas couple has been charged with fraudulently collecting over $215,000 in retirement benefits on behalf of a deceased relative, all while concealing his body inside their home for a staggering six years. The couple, identified as Kirk and Lynn Ritter, both 61 years old, now face charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds.

The bizarre series of events began in 2016 when Mike Carroll, the deceased relative, passed away at the age of 81. However, it wasn't until 2022 that Overland Park police stumbled upon his mummified body inside the home he owned, after his son-in-law, Kirk Ritter, finally reported his death in the Kansas City suburb.

Authorities made the shocking discovery while investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding Carroll's death. Initially, Overland Park police treated the case as a potential homicide, but a coroner later determined that Carroll had died of natural causes. It was during this investigation that they stumbled upon the macabre secret hidden within the Ritter's home.

According to court documents, Carroll's pacemaker revealed his actual date of death, contradicting the story presented by the Ritters. Prosecutors allege that the couple continued to deposit and spend money from Carroll's bank account, even as his body lay mummified on a bed in the very home he once lived in. Bank records from that time period clearly showed checks being written from Carroll's account and cashed by Lynn and Kirk Ritter.

The Ritters' deceit extended beyond the financial realm. Family members, who had been led to believe that Carroll was still alive, spoke out about the couple's repeated excuses for his absence. They claimed that the Ritters would offer a range of explanations as to why Carroll could never take phone calls or visit, all the while leading them to believe that he was still alive and well.

The pension and Social Security payments Carroll received in the six years following his death amounted to a staggering $216,067. Prosecutors assert that the Ritters fraudulently collected and spent over $215,000 of these funds, intended for the deceased Carroll.

As the case unfolds, the Ritters are set to appear in federal court on February 2nd to face the charges against them. However, they have not responded to attempts by the Kansas City Star to contact them, and court documents do not list a defense attorney representing them at this time.

This shocking case of fraud and concealment has left the community of Overland Park, Kansas, stunned. The extent of the Ritters' deception, not only in collecting funds meant for a deceased relative but also in hiding his body for six years, is a stark reminder of the depths some individuals are willing to go for personal gain. The upcoming court appearance will shed further light on this disturbing case and hopefully provide some closure for the family members who were deceived for so long.