INDEPENDENCE TWP. (WWJ) – A man who allegedly lived with his roommate's corpse in his bathroom for close to a month in Oakland County has been charged with a misdemeanor for failing to report a deceased person.
Mark Alan Means, 58, was arraigned on the charge in 52-2nd District Court on Friday. Means is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $5,000 cash, surety or 10 percent bond, authorities said.
Under the conditions set forward with his bond, Means is not allowed to live at the residence where the body of Michael Leroy Wagner, 76, was ultimately found by authorities in the 7800 block of Caberfae Trail in Independence Township.
Means will be given one opportunity to retrieve his belongings from the home with police present.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said an autopsy revealed there was no foul play in the death of the 76-year-old man; Wagner had several underlying medical conditions and he died of natural causes.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Caberfae Trail around 2 a.m. Tuesday to do a welfare check on Wagner.
When authorities showed up, Means – who also lives at the home – told police the other man was just sleeping upstairs.
But after deputies insisted they needed to talk to Wagner to confirm his well being, Means admitted he had been dead for approximately one month.
Authorities found Wagner lying in the bathroom and brought the other man into custody for questioning.
Police are still investigating why Means failed to report Wagner's death.
Wagner could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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