Man Faces Disorderly Conduct Charge After Faking (Alive) Mom's Obituary in Bid for Paid Time Off
Scott Bennett just wanted a little time off from work. Now he has more free time than he bargained for.
The 45-year-old Brookville, Pa., man took out a phony obituary in the local newspaper, the Jeffersonian Democrat, for his still-living mother in a bid for paid bereavement leave from work.
But the hoax was discovered when relatives contacted the newspaper to say the woman was alive and well. And the woman herself visited the newspaper office to prove it, according to the Associated Press.
Randy Bartley, editor of the Jeffersonian Democrat newspaper, said he accepted the obituary in good faith after he was unable to confirm the funeral arrangements at press time.
Bennett was charged with disorderly conduct, according to Brookville, Pa., police chief Ken Dworek. Bennett also was fired from his factory job, according to ABC News’ Consumer Report blog.
After 46 years in law enforcement, Dworek said he thought he’d seen it all. But he thought wrong.
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this happening,” he said.
