A Lakewood man who admitted he kept his partner's body hidden in their condo so he could keep spending the dead man's Social Security benefits has been sentenced to five years in prison, court records show. The plea and punishment close out what has been one of Jefferson County's more unsettling criminal cases in recent memory.
Judge Hands Down Five-Year Prison Term
In Jefferson County District Court, 56-year-old James Agnew pleaded guilty to two felony counts - tampering with a deceased human body and identity theft - and received a five-year prison sentence, according to CBS News. Investigators said Agnew admitted he kept the body in the apartment so he could continue using the man's Social Security payments.
How Detectives Discovered The Body
Investigators found the remains on July 3, 2025, during a search of a Lakewood condominium that followed a welfare check requested by the victim's brother. According to the arrest affidavit, the body was discovered under a deflated air mattress. Law & Crime reviewed the affidavit and reported that investigators believe about $17,400 in Social Security benefits were withdrawn from the man's accounts after his death.
Felony Counts And Colorado Law
Prosecutors said Agnew's guilty plea covered both the concealment of the death and the ongoing use of the victim's financial accounts. Under Colorado law, tampering with a deceased human body is defined in C.R.S. §18-8-610.5, which is published on Justia, and identity theft is outlined in C.R.S. §18-5-902 on Justia. Both offenses carry the possibility of multiple years behind bars under the state's sentencing rules.
Wife Still Facing Her Own Case
Agnew's wife, Suzanne Agnew, was arrested at the same time in July 2025 and faces similar charges. Her case is still moving through Jefferson County court, according to earlier reporting. Prosecutors have said they are not accusing the couple of killing the man, and the coroner's early findings suggested the death was likely natural or related to drug use.
Unsettling Aftermath For Family And Neighbors
With Tuesday's sentencing, the criminal case against James Agnew is resolved, but the grim discovery - and the couple's use of the man's benefits - has left relatives and neighbors grappling with how the situation went on for so long without being detected. Reporting and court filings show prosecutors pursued felony charges tied to concealing the death and exploiting a vulnerable adult's benefits, offenses that can result in prison time followed by post-release supervision under Colorado law.
