news-record.com

BURLINGTON — A Burlington man hid his mother's death in March and began to cash her social security checks and use her EBT card, police said.

Don Lee Wade, 50 of 134 N. Ireland St., was charged Tuesday with concealment of death. He was placed in the Alamance County jail under a $10,000 secured bond.

At 11:49 a.m. Wednesday, police officers were notified by the Burlington Housing Authority of a death investigation. Housing authority staff were inspecting Wade's home at 134 N. Ireland St. when they discovered the body of 94-year-old Lucy Mae Hutchins Wade.

Because of the state of decomposition, her body was sent to the N.C. Chief Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

Investigators searched the home and noticed that someone had been collecting newspapers and mail for Lucy Wade.

The autopsy was completed on Friday and investigators were notified that Lucy Wade's death appeared to be of natural causes. The medical examiner estimated her death occurred about six months prior to the body being found.

As a result of this information, detectives interviewed Lucy Wade's son, Don Lee Wade. Detectives learned that Don Wade was aware of his mother’s death in March and did nothing about it. He continued to gather her mail and began cashing her social security checks.

The financial aspect of this case is still under investigation. Burlington detectives are working with the U. S. Social Security Administration to determine the federal government's financial loss.