A Michigan woman who lived for months with the dead body of her partner in her living room has appeared in court on forgery charges.
Linda Chase, 71, is accused of cashing Charles Zigler's pension and Social Security retirement cheques.
She appeared in court in Jackson, Michigan, three weeks after police found Mr Zigler's remains in a chair in their house in the south of the US state.
Chase has reportedly said she did not want to part with the body and talked to it while watching stock car races on TV.
Police believe 67-year-old Mr Zigler died of natural causes in December 2010, although Chase said it was last year.
She is not accused of any crimes related to Mr Zigler's death or her failure to report it.
However, she is charged with forgery in relation to cheques worth \$28,000 (£18,000) intended for Mr Zigler.
A judge released her after advising her to appear for all court dates.
"I can't even walk. Why would I run?" Chase replied.
Police entered the couple's home on July 6 after Mr Zigler's relatives said they hadn't heard from him and could not get inside.
"She knows exactly what she has done," Mr Zigler's nephew, Aaron Dryer, said.
"It wasn't because she missed him or because she couldn't live without him. It was for the sole purpose of taking that money. ... Our family wants her in jail."
A lawyer has not yet been appointed for Chase but prosecutor Hank Zavislak said a mental-health examination is likely before the case moves forward.
