Jul 7, 2008 8:50 pm US/Eastern
Sources: Turtle Creek Body Buried At Least 4 Years
TURTLE CREEK (KDKA) ―
Multiple sources close to the investigation say the body recovered from a shallow grave in Turtle Creek was that of Mary Wetzel and the man who took care of the woman for more than 20 years admitted he buried the body of the woman at least four years ago.
Sources tell KDKA Kenny Zang, Wetzel's caretaker, is mentally-challenged and suffered a stroke two years ago. Zang claims he was told by Wetzel not to contact anyone when she died. It is assumed she meant her estranged family.
Zang told investigator that he thought she meant everyone.
Wetzel's estranged son went to the house to reconnect with his mother. When he didn't get the answers he wanted from Zang, he contacted the police.
KDKA has also confirmed through multiple sources that Wetzel continued to receive Social Security checks, directly deposited into her account and Zang had access to that account.
There have been no charges filed yet pending a coroner's cause of death determination.
Wetzel was believed to be in her 80s when she died.
If any of the Social Security money was taken out by Zang he could face federal charges of Social Security fraud. But no charges have been determined and given Zang's mental state it is unclear if he knew what he was doing.
Officials are still investigating.
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