A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to concealing the death of his 72-year-old cousin, a former US Marine, and collecting his benefits while living in the dead man’s mobile home for more than eight months, according to reports by NJ.com.
Steven M. Blankenship, 59, admitted during an October 9 court hearing that he hid the death of Michael S. Blankenship from authorities so he could continue receiving money intended for his older cousin, whom he had cared for before his death.
The case came to light in April 2025, when New Jersey State Police responded to a request for a welfare check at Michael’s mobile home in Evergreen Estates, Fairfield Township. According to court documents, officers noticed a smell consistent with decomposition while knocking on the door.
After entering the property, troopers followed the smell to a bedroom closet, where they found Michael’s body wrapped in three layers of plastic. The closet door had been sealed with duct tape, and the door had no handle, according to the records.
Investigators also found a note inside the mobile home that authorities believe was written by Steven. The note stated that Michael had died on July 27, 2024, from what it described as dementia-related causes. It also indicated that the writer had been using Michael’s credit card and income to pay for purchases because of his own declining health, according to police.
Prosecutors accused Steven of concealing his cousin’s death to continue collecting his benefits and using money that should no longer have been paid after Michael’s death. The alleged scheme cost the state thousands of dollars.
A grand jury indicted Steven in July 2025 on charges of theft and desecration of human remains. He initially rejected a plea agreement that would have resulted in a 12-year prison sentence, but later pleaded guilty under an agreement that calls for a 10-year sentence.
As part of the agreement, Steven must also pay $15,000 in restitution to the New Jersey Department of Labor. He is scheduled to return to court on December 11 for sentencing.
Michael, who left military service in 1970, was buried with full military honors in 2025, bringing a formal military farewell after his remains were discovered months after his death.
