A Morgan County Sheriff’s officer has apprehended a man accused of stealing over $35,000 from the bank account of a person who died back in January.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Circuit Court by Capt. Tim Stapleton, the victim’s heir notified police last month someone living in the deceased victim’s Tri-Lake Park trailer was believed to have stolen money from his estate.
In an investigation led by Capt. Stapleton, with assistance from Roy’s Service Center, CNB and other businesses, police discovered $35,362 in charges drawn from the victim’s account between March 10 and August 10.
The deceased victim’s card was used at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, Game Stop, The Locked Door, Roy’s and others during that time.
Roy’s identified the man who used the deceased victim’s card to pay for work on his Honda Civic. Walmart also provided a photo of the man who used the card. The Locked Door provided a list of items purchased with the deceased victim’s card.
Justin A. Brittingham, 34, of Berkeley Springs was identified as the man allegedly using the deceased victim’s card.
Brittingham and his wife, formerly related to the deceased victim through marriage, had been living in the deceased victim’s trailer.
After initially denying the allegations, Brittingham later called Capt. Stapleton wanting to confess, according the criminal complaint.
After producing the items from The Locked Door listed in a search warrant, Brittingham was arrested on September 22 and charged with grand larceny.
He was released from jail on a $2,500 personal reconnaissance bond and is awaiting a hearing in the matter.
