Ohio – An Ohio woman was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder of her family member, 8-year-old D. CoIe Sr. She pleaded guilty to charges of murder and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors said the 37-year-old woman, Britany, reportedly administered a fatal combination of medications to her husband’s dad, including TyIenol 3 with codeine and ZzQuiI, at their family residence in Ohio.
The following morning, she discovered him deceased but chose not to report his death. Instead, she concealed the body within the home for weeks, instructing family members to falsely claim that the victim had moved to Cincinnati. During this period, the woman and her 44-year-old husband, D. CoIe Jr., continued to collect his dad’s $2,300 monthly Social Security benefits.
Prosecutors said the woman instructed family members to lie about the victim’s whereabouts, telling them to say he moved to Cincinnati. The couple left for a vacation in Florida from December 26, 2024, to January 1, leaving the body unattended. Upon their return, on January 8, 2025, her husband discovered his father’s decomposing body.
Together, they wrapped it in a tarp and mattress cover, initially moving it to the sunroom and later to a shed behind their home. The body remained there until February 10, 2025, when local authorities, responding to a 911 call, found it in an advanced state of decomposition.
Investigators uncovered digital evidence, including a Google search on the woman’s phone inquiring about the time it takes for a body to start smelling. Financial records showed continued withdrawals from the victim’s account after his death. Britany confessed to administering the lethal doses, acknowledging her awareness of their potential fatality.
Prosecutors highlighted the betrayal of trust and financial exploitation involved in the case. Charges are pending against the victim’s son, who participated in concealing the body and benefited financially from his father’s death.
The woman’s swift sentencing reflects the efficiency of the justice system, bringing a tragic chapter for the victim’s family to a close. The defendant must serve 16 years behind bars before she is eligible for parole, court records say.
