Man fakes mom's death to get paid time off from work, say Pa. cops

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

A Pennsylvania man claimed his mother had died so he could take time off from work. But mom is still very much alive

/ AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

(CBS/AP) BROOKVILLE, Pennsylvania - Authorities say a Pennsylvania man apparently desperate for some time off from work concocted the following plan: Write up an obituary for his mother (who was still alive), get it published in the local paper, and get paid time off for bereavement due to his mother's death.

Did we mention she is actually still alive?

Police on Tuesday charged 45-year-old Scott Bennett with disorderly conduct. Randy Bartley, editor of The Jeffersonian Democrat newspaper, says he accepted the obituary from Bennett in good faith after being unable to confirm the funeral arrangements at press time.

But then relatives called paper after the obit appeared to say Bennett's mother was actually alive and well. Then - in case that wasn't good enough - mom herself visited the paper's offices.

Brookville Police Chief Ken Dworek says Bennett wrote up the memorial notice because he didn't want to get fired for taking time off.

Considering the country's unemployment situation, faking your mother's death might not be the absolute best way to hold onto your job.

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