New Jersey man pleads guilty to hiding cousin's corpse to claim veteran benefits

Steven M. Blanken­ship, 59, pleaded guilty to concealing the corpse of his 72-year-old cousin, US Marine Michael S. Blankenship, inside a closet of the veteran’s mobile home in Fairfield Township. The body remained hidden for more than eight months, allowing Steven to continue collecting the Marine’s state benefits and using his credit card for personal purchases. Authorities uncovered the scheme after responding to a wellness check at the Evergreen Estates trailer in April 2025, where they detected a strong decomposition odor and found the remains wrapped in plastic and sealed with duct tape.

A handwritten note inside the home claimed the Marine had died from dementia-related causes on July 27, 2024, and admitted the financial fraud. A grand jury had previously indicted Steven on theft and desecration charges in July 2025; he rejected an earlier plea that would have led to a 12-year prison term. Under one outlet plea, he must repay $15,000 to the New Jersey Department of Labor and awaits sentencing on Dec. 11. Michael S. Blankenship, discharged in 1970, was finally interred with full military honors in 2025.