Woman allegedly admits to taking dead man to bank to withdraw cash in jail call
ASHTABULA, Ohio (WJW) – Karen Casbohm, one of the women accused of taking a dead elderly man to the bank to withdraw money from his account, allegedly admitted to the crime during a recorded phone call made from an Ohio jail.
The I-Team at Nexstar's WJW obtained a recording of the call reportedly made by Casbohm to one of her relatives.
Casbohm, 63, and Loreen Feralo, 55, were arraigned last week on charges of theft and gross abuse of a corpse after police said they propped up a dead man in a car, withdrew about $900 from his bank account, and then dropped off his body at a local hospital.
Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said the women were not related to the victim, identified as Douglas Layman, but lived at his home. They had previously been allowed by the bank to withdraw money from Layman's account as long as he was in the car.
Police said the women found Layman dead in his home on March 4. Details about his death are limited.
A person believed to be Casbohm's relative, on the phone call, did ask when the victim died, according to the recording obtained by WJW.
“He died when I said he died,” a woman identified as Casbohm responded. She then went on to say he died walking out the door on the afternoon of March 4.
During the phone call, Casbohm, who is in a wheelchair, allegedly said Feralo could not lift Layman, so they called a male friend to help. The relative can be heard on the phone call asking Casbohm why she didn’t call the police.
“I just figured I would go to the bank and then to the hospital and drop him off,” she responded. “I just forgot to leave his name.”
“He died before you went to the bank, dude,” the relative said.
“I know,” Casbohm allegedly said.
Both Casbohm and Feralo appeared in Ashtabula Municipal Court on Tuesday and waived their right to a preliminary hearing. Their cases will now be sent to the Ashtabula County grand jury to determine if they should be indicted.
The case remains under investigation and additional charges could be filed.
Friends and family members of the victim were at the court hearing and said they want justice for Layman, adding that he trusted both women and let them live with him.
Casbohm’s daughter, Taylor Woodring, said her mother has had issues with illegal drugs for years.
“Her drug abuse over the years has increased her infection status where she can't walk,” Woodring said. “She hasn't been able to walk for several years now.”
An official with the Ashtabula County coroner says the victim died on March 4. His cause of death is still pending.
Both Feralo and Casbohm remain in the Ashtabula jail. The bond for each woman is set at $5,000. If convicted, they could face up to a year in prison on each charge, according to prosecutors.