Married Couple 'Kept Lover's Corpse at Home For a Year' as 'Dogs Chewed on Body'

Inset left to right James Agnew and Suzanne Agnew (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office) and James O'Neill (Lakewood Police Department). Background: The apartments where the purported threesome lived in Lakewood, Colo.

A Tennessee couple has been charged after allegedly keeping the body of their “intimate” partner in their home for 18 months in order to continue receiving and using his financial benefits.

James Agnew, 55, and Suzanne Agnew, 57, are accused of stealing more than $20,000 in benefits belonging to Jim O’Neill after his death in December 2023. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the pair allegedly used O’Neill’s debit card on multiple occasions even after his death.

Suzanne Agnews told police that she covered O'Neill with a deflated air mattress when their chihuahuas began to chew on the corpse

Both James and Suzanne Agnew face one count each of tampering with a deceased human body and abuse of a corpse. They also face several additional charges involving financial fraud and theft.

Investigators said the case began when authorities attempted to conduct a welfare check following concerns raised by O’Neill’s brother. At the Agnews’ residence, they were met by a man identifying himself as “James,” who declined to cooperate and gave conflicting information about O’Neill’s whereabouts. Police noted that the man appeared to be implying he was James O’Neill.

After O’Neill was reported missing, his brother contacted the couple regarding an inheritance payment and was told that O’Neill had returned but refused to speak. When asked to confirm the deposit in person, the couple stopped communicating. Suspicious, the brother reviewed O’Neill’s bank records and found continued Social Security deposits and numerous ATM withdrawals.

James and his wife are not suspected of killing the man, James O'Neill

Police reviewed surveillance footage from a local convenience store and reportedly saw James Agnew using O’Neill’s debit card. Officers later arrested James Agnew on an outstanding warrant and subsequently executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence.

During the search, Suzanne Agnew allegedly admitted that O’Neill’s remains were inside the home. Detectives located the body of a deceased male believed to be O’Neill.

In a subsequent interview, Suzanne told investigators that she, her husband, and O’Neill had been in a three-way relationship and that O’Neill died from natural causes or possible drug use in December 2023. She said they initially left the body in place and later covered it with a deflated air mattress after their dogs began disturbing the remains. Suzanne admitted she knew it was wrong to keep the body but acknowledged they did so to continue receiving his benefits. James Agnew reportedly gave a similar account.

Authorities confirmed that neither James nor Suzanne are suspected of causing O’Neill’s death. Suzanne Agnew is scheduled to appear in court on August 27, and James Agnew is scheduled for a court appearance on September 2.