Daughter of couple who kept man’s decomposing body in home sentenced

UHRICHSVILLE — The daughter of the couple accused of keeping a man’s decomposed body inside their eastern Ohio home for several months so they could steal his government benefits was sentenced Tuesday in Tuscarawas County Southern District Court for her role in the crime.

Briann D. Sorohan, 18, was given six months of probation, handed down by Magistrate Jason L. Jackson, for failure to report knowledge of a death, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

Sorohan lived at her parents’ house on 4th Street in Wainwright, where the body of 71-year-old Robert L. Harris was found inside the filthy home March 21. It’s alleged the Sorohan family kept the decomposed body to steal Harris’ Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits.

“Our office was of the belief, based on the evidence, that Briann’s culpability wasn’t the same as the parents’,” said Tuscarawas County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Deedrick. “And while we’re certainly very concerned about the fact that this gentleman’s death was not reported to the authorities, and that this, frankly, bizarre and really unhealthy set of circumstances went on for as long as it did, we really feel that this charge is the most appropriate.”

As part of her six months of probation, Briann Sorohan is required to complete 30 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine, plus court costs. Jackson suspended a 30-day jail sentence.

Sorohan’s parents, Brian D. Sorohan, 49, and Stacy L. Sorohan, 45, are each charged with gross abuse of a corpse and two counts of theft, all fifth-degree felonies. They also are charged with failure to report knowledge of a death.

The cause and manner of Harris’ death could not be determined by a forensic pathologist, according to Tuscarawas County Coroner Jeffrey L. Cameron. The Sorohans’ home was condemned by the county Health Department the same day the body was found.

The sheriff’s office found Harris’ decomposed body while searching the home after people who knew him had become concerned about not seeing him for a long time. He had formerly lived in Alliance and moved in with the Sorohan family. It’s estimated Harris was left dead inside the home for several months.