An upstate New York woman who lived above the apartment where her 93-year-old mother's decomposing body was found in December faces grand larceny charges.
Fulton County authorities say 60-year-old Mary Kersting also was charged Thursday with improper disposal of a body and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $25,000 bail.
Prosecutors say police checking on the welfare of Hope Ruller found the woman's badly decomposed body on Dec. 29 in her first-floor apartment in Gloversville, 40 miles northwest of Albany. Kersting lived in the upstairs apartment.
Authorities say Ruller died in October 2013 from unknown causes. Officials say Kersting didn't report the death and collected $13,000 in Ruller's Social Security and pension benefits.
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