A New York woman was arrested on Wednesday for living with her roommate's corpse, who died of overdose. Stephanie Hillburn was arrested for hiding a corpse after a welfare check at her house on Valentine's Day, according to the Johnstown Police Department.
Stephanie Hillburn, 43, has been charged with concealing a human corpse and faces up to four years in jail if found guilty, according to the Johnstown Police Department. Per News10, another housemate, Deborah Eglin, who is presently in state prison on other charges, is expected to face charges in connection with this event.
Roommates hide a woman's dead body
After receiving an anonymous call for a welfare check, police discovered Patricia Barter, 62, deceased in her home on February 14. According to police documents obtained by the local station, Hillburn and Eglin answered the door and grew nervous when investigators wanted to speak with Barter. The women led the authorities to Barter's body, which was found in a bedroom. Police stated that the woman looked to have been deceased for some time.
Barter likely died of an overdose a week before her body was discovered by authorities, further inquiry determined. Authorities said Hillburn and Eglin allegedly carried Barter's body to the bedroom in an attempt to conceal Barter's death from being discovered by guests.
The women continued to live under the same roof as the corpse and did not inform authorities for fear of being arrested for additional unlawful activities. Authorities believe the two remaining roommates attended multiple parties and get-togethers at the house during the week after their roommate died.
Hillburn was arrested on August 11 during a traffic stop, according to authorities. She was also charged with criminal possession of a hypodermic tool during the traffic stop. At this moment, it's unknown whether Hillburn has filed a plea to any of her accusations. Her lawyer could not be reached for comment on her behalf right away, as per PEOPLE via MSN.
Women continue hosting parties despite roommate's decomposing corpse
Per Daily Mail, the woman led the cops to Barter's room, where they discovered her body decomposing on the bed. According to the cops, she appeared to have been dead for some time. Barter died of a drug overdose during the week of February 6, 2021, according to an inquiry. Hillburn and Eglin then allegedly transported Barter's body to her bedroom in an attempt to keep her body hidden from guests.
Hillburn and Eglin continued to live in the same apartment as Barter's body, even hosting many parties, investigators say. The suspect had left somewhere between February and last week. On August 11, she was detained at a traffic stop near Amsterdam, New York, about 10 miles south of Johnstown in the Capital Region, for an outstanding warrant. She was found to have drug paraphernalia during a search.
According to The Leader-Herald, Eglin is now in state prison on an unrelated felony conviction of unlawful possession of the stolen property and is anticipated to face the corpse concealing allegation.
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