Features

Mummified body of 94-year-old found in California chest

The Associated Press
Saturday November 10, 2001

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The discovery of the mummified body of a 94-year-old woman inside a chest in a shed near the Oregon border has resulted in murder charges against a man who lived at the woman’s home. 

The body of Alice Beck was located by Modoc County sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday. 

Sam Brown, 68, who shared a home with Beck at Willow Ranch, north of Alturas, Calif., told police that she died in December 1999 of natural causes. After her death he allegedly placed the body, which was in the fetal position, in the chest. 

Brown was charged Thursday with second-degree murder, elder abuse and grand theft for cashing Beck’s Social Security checks. 

An autopsy was planned next week. Because of the deteriorated state of the body it is uncertain what determinations can be made. 

One of Beck’s neighbors called police on Tuesday, saying she had not seen the woman for more than a year. When a deputy questioned Brown that night, he said that Beck was out of the area. 

Brown telephoned the sheriff’s office Wednesday and asked that they return to his residence. He led them to Beck’s body. 

Willow Ranch is a mostly abandoned former lumber mill community 34 miles north of Alturas off Highway 395 with only scattered residences. The elementary school, store and post office have long been closed.