Patrick L. Robinson, Wayne County District Attorney, announced today that Moria Ann Richey, age 52, was sentenced to 60 days to 18 months in the Wayne County Correctional Facility. Richey pleaded guilty on March 9, 2018 to one (1) Count of Theft, a 1^st Degree Misdemeanor, and one (1) count of Abuse of Corpse, a 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor. On May 27, 2017, Richey executed a monetary withdraw of $1,600.00, from a local bank account by signing the name of her mother, Patricia Richey, age 80. Based on the autopsy of Patricia Richey and additional circumstantial evidence, Patricia Richey died prior to May 27, 2017. As to the charge of Abuse of the Corpse of Patricia Richey it is clear that based on the autopsy of Patricia Richey and on additional circumstantial evidence that the Defendant, Moria Ann Richey, hid the death of her mother from her landlord for several months prior to the discovery of Patricia Richey’s decaying body on June 23, 2017.

Moria Richey was scheduled to be sentenced on May 3, 2018. She checked into a Scranton hospital on the morning of May 3, 2018. Senior Judge Raymond L. Hamill then issued a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested on May 3, 2018, and returned to Wayne County for today’s Sentencing Hearing.

District Attorney Robinson stated, “This is a very unusual and disturbing case. Ultimately it is a very sad case. Obviously, the Defendant in this case is a disturbed individual with mental health issues. I believe the sentence imposed by Senior Judge Hamill was appropriate given the Defendant’s mental health issues.”