Woman burned her friend's body in Georgia and stole her identity to collect her benefits

A woman has been arrested nearly 17 years after her friend’s decapitated body was found in a burning bag along a Georgia road, though authorities have not charged her with killing the victim.

In December 2007, authorities found the remains of a woman, later identified as Nicole Alstonin a burning bag on the street in Hogansville, Georgia. The victim was not identified until December 2023, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The investigation eventually led to the arrest of her friend. Angel Marie Thompson on August 19, on charges of hiding a body.

The investigation dates back to December 2007, when Troup County officials responded to a scene of a “suspicious black bag” burning on the side of the road in Hogansville.

They found a “smoking” bag with remains of a decapitated body inside; The body was also missing its hands and feet.according to the statement.

The case went cold for years until DNA analysis revealed in December 2023 that the remains were those of Alston, who was 24 at the time of her death and was last heard from on Thanksgiving Day 2007 in New York.

Further investigation revealed that Alston had moved to Atlanta with Thompsonwho was wanted in New York at the time on charges related to identity theft and fraud.

After Alston’s death, Thompson allegedly used her identity to access the victim’s welfare benefits, housing and food for eight years, police said in the statement.

The value of the alleged fraud and theft amounts to approximately $200,000.according to authorities.

According to the statement, Thompson stopped the alleged fraud after the Social Security Administration contacted the beneficiary, believing him to be Alston, to come to an office in person to re-qualify for benefits.

Thompson is not facing any charges in connection with Alston’s death and police say the investigation into his death is ongoing.

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