Woman dead since early last year left in house under tarp

LEXINGTON, Mo. -- After the decomposed body of a woman who apparently died early last year was found in her home, her son was charged Monday with receiving stolen property and 16 counts of forgery.

The charges, as well as one of abandoning a corpse, were filed against Max Weller, 46, of Lexington.

Lafayette County prosecutors said the alleged scam dated back to as early as February 2001 -- the apparent time that Mildred Weller died. They said her body, covered with a tarp and packed with cat litter, lay in her home since then.

According to court documents, Lexington police found the body while trying to check on the well-being of the retired schoolteacher. Neighbors became suspicious because of tall grass and widespread weed growth in her yard.

"We were led to believe that she was in rest homes in Basehor, Kan., and then Kansas City," next-door neighbor James McGrath said. "Turns out that was just a decoy."

While police were seeking Mildred Weller, federal officials were investigating a case of possible Social Security fraud and forged checks by Max Weller, according to court documents.

At the home, investigators found signs posted outside claiming the house was rigged with traps.

The woman's body was in one bedroom and checks from her bank account were discovered in another.

Investigators believe Mildred Weller died of natural causes, but were awaiting the results of an autopsy to make a final determination.

Neighbors described the Wellers as people who kept to themselves and considered Max Weller standoffish.

"I figured there was something going on," said Rona Reade. "He was always in the house, and he wouldn't let anyone come in their yard."

Weller, McGrath said, was "a hard gentleman to figure out."

McGrath said he served on the City Council in Lexington and had considered a run for mayor within the past few months.