Since 2007, a Woman Collected Over $200,000 in Benefits Under a Missing Woman's SSN

Disclosure: State of Alabama-based writer. This article is a work from cited sources for informational purposes and is used with permission. No affiliate links are included

A shocking cold case involving the discovery of a beheaded body found in a burning bag along a roadside in Georgia has taken a new turn, nearly 17 years later, with the arrest of the victim’s friend. While authorities do not accuse the suspect of the killing, the charges stem from an alleged fraudulent scheme tied to the victim’s identity.

In December 2007, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office responded to a grisly scene, where they found a burning black bag containing the remains of a woman. The body was mutilated, missing its head, hands, and feet, leaving authorities stumped for years as they struggled to identify the victim. It wasn’t until December 2023, after advancements in DNA technology, that police were able to identify the remains as those of 24-year-old Nicole Alston, a woman who had been last heard from in New York on Thanksgiving 2007.

Angel ThompsonPhoto byCanva, TCSO

The investigation into Alston’s tragic death eventually led authorities to arrest her friend, Angel Marie Thompson, on August 19, 2024. Thompson, however, is not facing murder charges but has been charged with concealing a body. Authorities allege that after Alston’s death, Thompson used her identity to fraudulently collect over $200,000 in social security, housing, and food benefits for nearly eight years.

Investigators revealed that the fraud only ended in 2015 when the Social Security Administration requested Alston, who they believed to be alive, come in person to re-qualify for benefits.

The case, which has drawn attention across the Southeast, remains open as law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Alston’s death. Thompson is not currently facing charges related to the murder, and it’s unclear if she will face further charges regarding the fraudulent benefits she allegedly collected.

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