PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WOWK) — A Portsmouth family faces charges after allegedly removing the body of an overdose victim from their home before calling 911.
According to the Portsmouth Police Department, brothers Adam and Joseph Collins and their mother Patricia Collins were indicted for Gross Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Evidence, and Obstructing Official Business.
The incident dates back to March 2024, when Patricia reported finding the body of Tiffany Shy, Joseph’s girlfriend, near an alley by their High Street residence. Patricia claimed she discovered the body while taking out the trash, stating that Joseph and Shy were homeless and did not live at the home.
Investigators later determined that Joseph was present at the scene when Shy died and had fled before first responders arrived. An autopsy confirmed Shy’s death was due to an accidental overdose.
Further investigation uncovered a witness who saw two people carrying the body out of the residence. Interviews with the Collins family revealed that Patricia ordered Joseph and Adam to remove Shy’s body from the basement, only contacting 911 after it had been left in the backyard.
All three face serious charges related to their alleged actions following Shy’s death.
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