Sheriff: Family cremated mom on BBQ, kept benefits

CORNING, Calif. (AP) -- The family of a dead elderly woman cremated her remains on a makeshift barbecue and continued collecting her retirement checks amounting to more than $25,000, authorities in Northern California said. Ramona Allmond's daughter and grandson were arrested Sunday on suspicion of embezzlement, elder abuse and disposing of a body without a permit.

Allmond, 84, likely died of natural causes, though investigators were still trying to determine the exact cause of death, said Tehama County sheriff's Capt. Paul Hosler.

Allmond's daughter, Kathleen Allmond, 50, and Allmond's grandson, Tony Ray, 30, told investigators their relative died in December. They left her body on her bedroom floor for a week before cremating the remains in their backyard fire pit, Hosler said.

Investigators said the two kept collecting Allmond's monthly retirement checks, amounting to more than $25,000. Sheriff's Detective Richard Knox said they may have been trying to honor Allmond's desire to die at home and be cremated.

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And nobody smelled that body being burnt?

If they lived on a farm or large plot of land, there would likely be no neighbors close enough to smell it.

Still disgusting though.

People are strange, though.

I've had a few relatives like that. They truly did not want any particular fuss made over their dead bodies and might have much appreciated being cremated in the backyard barbecue pit.

I have to confess this story made me laugh.

Seems to me that if I were going to do something like that, I'd have the decency to dig a fresh pit for her.

And did they keep her post-cremation remains on the property? Add "stupidity" to embezzlement, elder abuse, and disposing of a body without a permit.

...and sailed her into the sunset with a proper funeral....