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Backyard Bones: Ex-Homeowner Accused of Taking His Dead Dad's Social Security Checks
In a curious twist in the ongoing case of the human remains found in the backyard of a Santa Ana home, the former homeowner is now being charged with embezzling his deceased father's Social Security payments for over seven years.Larry Thomas Dominguez, 65, was arrested by Santa Ana Police after being questioned in conjunction with the discovery of a human skull and other bones buried in the backyard of his former home. The current homeowner made the gruesome discovery Sunday afternoon while doing some landscaping. Dominguez' home burned down in 2006.
Now Dominguez is accused of collecting over $100,000 in his late father's benefits since May 2005, according to City News Service.
"Dominguez's father, Wallace Benjamin Dominguez, would have been in his 80s," reports the OC Register. Cpl. Anthony Bertanga said they have been unable to locate a death certificate for the elder Mr. Dominguez.
Forensic anthropologists have been examining the bones, and now Bertanga says they believe they are those of Wallace Dominguez.
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Prior to moving in, the current homeowner (and former neighbor) Philip Mendez, said Dominguez told him there were bones on the property, however Dominguez said they belonged to a dog, and then later said they were those of puppies, according to KTLA. Dominguez told Mendez his sister may have been interested in retrieving the bones from the property.
Dominguez is expected to be arraigned today on the embezzlement charges. It is not evident yet if Wallace Dominguez was murdered, and if so, if Larry Dominguez is a suspect.
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