A flaming bag at the side of the road contained the victim’s dismembered remains. A Georgia lady is suspected of taking on her friend’s identity and stealing $200,000 of her benefits.
According to an official press release, Nicole Alston, 24, died, and Angel Marie Thompson is accused of hiding her death.
Deputies from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office reported that the case started in early December 2007 when they discovered remains in a smouldering black bag near Whitfield and Stitcher roads. Missing were the head, hands, and feet.
Troup County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Stewart Smith told local Fox affiliate WAGA that authorities believed the victim was killed elsewhere and then disposed of in Troup County.
The remains were unknown until early 2023 when investigators sent DNA from this case to forensics labs for analysis and genetic genealogy forensics while going over cold cases. On December 13, 2023, a match to Alston was found when the results were transferred to the crime lab of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for comparison.
Authorities discovered through the victim’s family that Alston and Thompson relocated to Atlanta in 2007 and that, two weeks before her body being discovered, Alston’s family had last spoken to her around Thanksgiving of that year. Additionally, the investigators discovered that Thompson was wanted in New York for identity fraud and theft at the time of their southward journey.
Following Alston’s death, according to officials, Thompson claimed to be Alston for eight years. She was receiving benefits between 2007 and 2015 when the Social Security Administration contacted Thompson to reapply for benefits and she returned to her original identity. More Georgian agencies are looking into the alleged $200,000 scam.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Alston’s death is still ongoing by Troup County detectives.
“At this time, we can’t really say 100% if this person was the killer or not,” Sgt. Stewart Smith with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office told local ABC affiliate WSB. “We don’t believe the actual homicide took place in Troup County. We believe it took place somewhere else, and it was just discarded there on the side of the road.”
Aug. 19 saw Thompson’s arrest. It was not immediately clear what her situation was or when she will next appear in court.
