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‘I Didn’t Want to Be Alone’: Mich. Woman Keeps Dead Boyfriend Clean & Dressed in Home for Over a Year

Jackson, Mich., Woman Kept Dead Boyfriend Sitting in a Chair at Home for More Than a Year

Charles Zigler (Photo: Linda Chase/WLNS via MLive.com)

Linda Chase of Jackson, Mich., said that her boyfriend Charles Williams Zigler was the “only guy who was ever nice to me.”

According to the Jackson Citizen Patriot, Chase, 72, and Zigler lived together for 10 years. In December 2010 though, Zigler died in his sleep at age 67. Instead of letting go of her good friend though, Chase ended up keeping him in the chair in which he died.

“I didn’t want to be alone,” Chase told the Jackson Citizen Patriot, acknowledging what she did was morbid, something she’s not proud of and could potentially go to prison for.

Here‘s more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot on Chase’s perspective:

“He just fell asleep.” She kept him in his chair after he died, keeping him dressed and cleaned. His body did not stink, she said. She would talk to him and watch NASCAR races on television with him.

Sitting on her porch Tuesday, Chase teared up remembering times she and Zigler went fishing. The two were close friends who lived together for more than 10 years. There were not boyfriend and girlfriend, as the police and neighbors thought, she said.

Zigler could make her laugh, even on her worst days.

“If you had to know Charlie, he had the best sense of humor in this whole world,” Chase said.

It was Zigler’s family, after not hearing from him, who decided to get in touch with the police to find him. Local police went to the Zigler and Chase homestead where they found the now mummified man in his chair. To the police, Chase admitted to maintaining the body, as well as taking his social security checks.

Jackson, Mich., Woman Kept Dead Boyfriend Sitting in a Chair at Home for More Than a Year

Chase holding a photograph of Zigler during his military days. (Photo: Aaron Aupperlee/Jackson Citizen Patriot via MLive.com)

In a separate article by the Jackson Citizen Patriot, Zigler’s son, Walter, said “it wasn’t right to leave him like that.” According to Walter, his father’s health had been going downhill for sometime before he died.

Zigler was found by police on July 6 and prosecutors are now considering whether to press charges. Walter said he hoped Chase was charged with something. Chase told the Citizen Patriot Zigler had a contentious relationship with his family.

“I know this is horrible, but after awhile, you get,” Chase told the Citizen Patriot beginning to tear up. “I don’t know what you call it, I don’t know.”

Read more details about this case and Zigler in the Jackson Citizen Patriot here.

(H/T: Yahoo! News)

Comments (98)

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  • fobama
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:20am

    well, ateast they watched nascar together, thats important to do when your dead in a chair with your sweetie… God I live in the twilight zone!

    Report Post » fobama  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:39am

      Just big dolls… for ole gals! By the way… we are a Predator Species, disagreeable, prone to fight & kill, motivated by Desire & Greed… creating an Evil & Dangerous Reality… where if GOD killed the Evil ones, we would all die!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • KBARRANCH
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:33pm

      You know it is a union between to solid individuals when the the best picture you can muster up for the news paper is Ole’ Charles ripping a heater in an Gangsta Orange Detroit Tigers hat…

      Report Post »  
    • landman1
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:25pm

      you got to figure this ole broad has some skills if she kept him clean and happy over a year after he’s dead. She deserves the money. Not one complaint in all that time.

      NEXT!

      Report Post »  
    • dtrcbma
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:25pm

      FOBAMA, thats a funny post…..Can’t stop laughing. With all the crazy that’s going on in this world I have to agree with you….

      Report Post »  
    • Uranium Wedge
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:12pm

      That is freak’n sad on so many levels.

      Report Post » Uranium Wedge  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:23pm

      you’re, not your. It‘s ’when you’re dead.’

      Report Post »  
    • blazingaway
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:49pm

      lmaorotfl … living in the twilight zoon … too damn funny

      Report Post » blazingaway  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:30am

      She is mentally ill…She needs a psychiatrist …Sad story,but she doesn’t deserve jail…no point in punishing the mentally ill

      Report Post »  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:50am

      @MCDAVE

      No point in punishing the mentally ill?! Nearly every criminal claims ‘mentally instable’ during their trial. What do you suggest we do with the mentally ill when they commit a severe crime?

      Granted, this lady is not a threat to society, BUT just because somebody is mentally ill and does something horendous doesn’t mean we give them carte blanche to do whatever the hell they want to, and let them off the hook!

      Report Post » Gumbercules  
  • wrshpn
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:08am

    Ok, that is just plain creepy! To have someone sitting in your living room, dead, for over a YEAR! You have serious issues……she was “talking” to him, and watching NASCAR with him….Oh and thanks for the SS checks! wOw!

    Report Post » wrshpn  
  • blackyb
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:48am

    That woman is a con. She used his Social Security checks or they would have investigated as to why they were not cashed. She is full of it. Wants sympathy is all. People like this are con artists. If they loved each other so much why did the not get married? Because it is all a bunch of crap.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • caveman74
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:17am

      i agree. she loved him so much that she just couldn’t let him go….but she wont even call him her boyfriend. Yah right. She wasnt afraid of being alone, she was afraid she couldn’t pay the bills without his social security check and kept the body around so she could claim insanity when she got caught so she can go to assisted living instead of prison

      Report Post »  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:26pm

      I don’t know. She could have buried him in the backyard, if it were all about the money.

      Report Post »  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:33am

    I am afraid I cannot understand this… People live, and people die… Its something we all must face as members of the Human race…

    I understand being lonely, and that can make people do some odd things (I.E. Imaginary Friends, talking to yourself, etc…) But this is a little too far off the deep end…

    I feel bad that she was THAT lonely, but at some point you have to let EVERYONE go…

    I don’t think this guy would have wanted this (although, I didn’t know him so I am not SURE), and she should have known that…

    Report Post » OniKaze  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:48am

      Well… he avoided the Cemetery Rats crawling through his box.

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Read the above posts….. It was all about the ss checks.

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:29am

    Maybe she just thought he was ignoring her…….

    Report Post »  
  • battles
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:14am

    This kind of story would be best left to the National Enquirer.
    (My favorite: I Cut Out Her Heart And Stomped On It!)

    Report Post » battles  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:02am

    …
    This is really morbid, but I was actually feeling sorry for this lonely woman, until I read the part of the story where it stated she kept taking his social security checks.
    Question is, did she cash them? If so, the law is going to view this case as, she didn’t report his death just to get his money.
    I assume, there will be an autopsy.

    Report Post »  
  • landman1
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:01am

    Ya know, ya gotta wonder what the rest of the house smells like if a year old dead body doesn’t rise to the “stink” threshold. Great for her though when all she got was crickets when she asked, ” how does this new dress look on me?”

    OUCH!

    Report Post »  
  • drasner
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:01am

    “social security checks.” I knew before I even looked. Entitlements enslave.

    Report Post »  
    • blackyb
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:46am

      She just wanted his social security checks. She thinks she is going to get sympathy. She should have got her a part time job, at least, maybe taking care of living people. She is full of it. Don’t fall for that crap.

      Report Post » blackyb  
    • Truthbeliever2
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:06am

      You are aware this is a 72 year old woman right? Tell me; what kind of job can a 72 year old woman do? I’m just curious. I don’t know anybody who has a full or part time job at age 72…

      Report Post » Truthbeliever2  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:32pm

      I don’t know. She could have buried the body, were it all about money. She dressed and cleaned the body (ugh); that wasn’t necessary to keep the check coming. She might not have notified SS because authorities would soon look for the body, thus taking her friend away. I think it is possible and probable that she was extremely depressed, I think, especially at her age. Maybe I’m a sap, but I tend to believe her story.

      Report Post »  
  • 3monkeysmomma
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:59am

    My husband always joked about wanting to be preserved and left sitting in his recliner after his death. If he’s getting SS, when he goes, I might have to give that some serious thought!

    Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:40am

      I had a supervisor once that we all thought someone should go up and stick a mirror under his nose to see if it would fog and tell us if he was still alive…….

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • libertyandresponsibility
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:57am

    It’s sad she was that lonely

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:29am

    “MICH. WOMAN KEEPS DEAD BOYFRIEND CLEAN & DRESSED IN HOME FOR OVER A YEAR”

    “They were not boyfriend and girlfriend, as the police and neighbors thought, she said.”

    Looks like our Blaze author needs to read her own articles before writing the titles.

    Eh, it’s creepy, but not really much creepier than Rick Santorum taking his stillborn child home to meet the family before burial. I‘ve never been in either situation and can’t really judge; it might seem weird, but I can’t presume what goes through the minds of people in those situations. What IS wrong was this:
    “To the police, Chase admitted to maintaining the body, as well as taking his social security checks.”

    She should be charged for Social Security fraud at the very least.

    Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:39am

      (And before anyone jumps on the Santorum reference, yes, I realize the child lived for a couple of hours before expiring. If anything that makes the situation even closer to this one, as the child “died,“ rather than simply never being ”born.” I also mean no disrespect to Santorum or his family: as said, I cannot comprehend what they were feeling at the time. Nor can I understand the feelings of this woman).

      Report Post »  
    • Hrothgar
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:11am

      A lonely heart is desperate for affection. Although this is some borderline Norman Bates stuff, it is more depressing and sad than anything. I mean this lady was crushed and extremely lonely, I can’t blame her for wanting a companion, but this is not the way to do it. Accepting the SS checks is definitely fraudulent and charges should be brought up regarding this.

      Report Post » Hrothgar  
    • Republichic
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:12am

      Locked….It’s apparent that you hesitated on your first comment because your second comment was an apology. I feel sorry for this woman based on her comment that Zigler was the only person that was nice to her. It’s obvious he was her dear friend and the thoughts of not having him with her was unbearable. I find it even more sad that the son wants her prosecuted. Where was he from December to July? Did he attempt to make contact with his father? Hopefully, she will have a good attorney to help her out of this situation. May God bless her with his favor. As far as Santorium, to even suggest something bad concerning the death of their child is wrong. Until you are in that situation, you can’t know what you would do. Love causes reactions and actions that people might question, but Santorium’s devotion to his family can never be questioned.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:40am

      @Republic hic

      “As far as Santorium, to even suggest something bad concerning the death of their child is wrong.”

      Where did I suggest it was bad? It was creepy to me, and to almost anyone looking at it from an outside perspective… which is exactly why I clarified. It’s an outside perspective, but strip out of the names and ages, and tell me “Family takes dead body home” doesn’t sound off.

      “Until you are in that situation, you can’t know what you would do. Love causes reactions and actions that people might question”

      … which is exactly what I said.

      “…but Santorium’s devotion to his family can never be questioned.”

      And I never did so.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:42am

      @Republic hic

      Also,

      “It’s apparent that you hesitated on your first comment because your second comment was an apology.”

      No, actually. I wrote the second comment because I realized I had said “stillborn,” which was not correct. I then clarified because I felt the initial wording “creepy” would rile some people. As it seemed to motivate your response, I’d say that was justified :-)

      Report Post »  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:41pm

      What Santorum did was the norm in the 1800′s and earlier. The dead were often placed in the parlor of the home for viewing, sometimes buried in the front or backyard. Heck, they even took death photos of their babies and children. Mortality rates were higher then, death more frequent, people more immune to it. It’s modern man, who seldom sees the dead, who does not want to be reminded of death, who thinks this weird. Of course, I am a modern man, but what Santorum did would not have been considered weird in the 19th century.

      Report Post »  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:44pm

      She might have cashed the checks because it would look suspicious were she not too. Some Fed might come snooping and find her dead beau, taking away her dead friend. Hard to say what people think. Who reads minds?

      Report Post »  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:50pm

      Besides, it’s primarily the left who criticizes Santorum for bringing the dead “fetus” home for viewing. I thought they told us it was just tissue, not human, not living at all, just tissue. They’re squeemish about tissue? It shows us their private conscience, that they know deep in their hearts that a fetus is human and a person.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:24am

    She misses her mummy……….

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:22am

    So the early Egyptians went to these elaborate processes to mummify, when all they really had to do was prop king Tut up in a lazy boy….? Hmmmmm

    Report Post »  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:36pm

      Yeah, but they weren’t getting social security checks.

      Report Post » hatchetjob  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:16am

    And he quit drinking, so that was a good thing………..

    Report Post »  
  • pap pap
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:11am

    I think that keeping a dead guy in a chair is one way to guarantee that you will be alone.

    Report Post »  
  • SocialistSlayer
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:05am

    Yes, typical Commie-Crats. Sad but true!

    Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
    • DIR
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:12pm

      @SOCIALISTSLAYER

      Your right about that. This type of thing goes on a lot with the left. Look at Nancy Pelosi. She’s been dead for years (you can tell from the smell) , but the dems keep her around. She’s so stiff, and she isn’t even wood, yet she’s the ultimate dummy. They haul her out for all kinds of benefits and occasions. The animitronics moves her lips and the recorder has her saying all kinds of nutty stuff. There’s no one alive that would say the kind of goofy stuff Nancy says. She’s also powered by methane. She has to be a dummy …. well that is unless she’s a Zombie.

      Nancy’s not the only one. The demcraps have all kinds of dead people around. talking heads, people that vote. It’s the party of the damned, it’s also the damn party.

      Report Post »  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:01am

    Yet she was alone because it was just a piece of wood in the chair that couldn’t see or feel. She could have purchased a garden gnome calling it him placing it in the chair to get as much comfort.

    Report Post »  
    • Mapache
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:08am

      But garden gnomes do not get social security checks…….

      Report Post » Mapache  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:56am

    Oh yes she loved him…and his social security checks.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • chips1
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:00am

      Who keeps cleaning Pelosi and dressing her? Double standard?

      Report Post »  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:48am

    She did it for the money. :)

    Report Post » Darla_K  
  • piper60
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:47am

    It’s amazing what lengths people will go to in order not to be alone. And yet, people will starve and beat their pets. I guess I just don’t get it.

    Report Post » piper60  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:44am

    OMG!! Ugggghhhhhh!

    Report Post »  
  • kcares
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:41am

    I know women that keep their live deadbeat boyfriends so they won’t be alone.

    Report Post » kcares  
    • Landon410
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:05am

      really, whats worse? staying with a drunkard who beats you all the time, or a dead guy who doesnt stink?
      its not that easy of a question

      Report Post »  
    • deeberj
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:36pm

      Dead guy who doesn’t stink wins in my book.

      Report Post » deeberj  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:40am

    bet she brought him out to vote too

    this is what a democrat looks like

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:50am

      Democrats may be unhinged but for the most part they don’t watch NASCAR with cadavers.

      I may be wrong though.

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • Landon410
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:06am

      Mrbutcher
      that was the funniest comment I’ve read all week

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:37am

    Actually, she sound mentally and emotionally like a typical woman. Of course both she and her dead boyfriend still vote Democrat.

    Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:25am

      Usually I just laugh at your stereotypes of women and move on or feel a degree of sadness for your cynicism. Dang, you’ve had some messed up women in your life. For what it’s worth, the “typical” woman does not keep a dead man with her for over a year.

      Blessings! :-)

      Report Post »  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:06am

      You’ll have to excuse my feeling for women in general. You see this country’s downfall started with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and the present Democratic Party wouldn‘t exist if women still didn’t have the right to vote. Just a fact.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:34pm

      I don‘t have an issue with your position of women’s right to vote. In many ways, I agree with you. As a God-fearing woman, I have no problem with submission to my husband‘s authority as he submits to Christ’s. Although, you can include in your blame tolerant, passive men for women gaining the right to vote in the first place as well as straying from the truth of the Bible. Not all women on Democrats, ya know.

      Report Post »  
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