In a case that has stunned legal circles and the community, Georgia resident Angel Marie Thompson has been charged with concealing the death of her friend, Nicole Alston, whose dismembered remains were discovered in 2007.
Thompson is also accused of committing extensive identity fraud by collecting government benefits in Alston’s name for eight years, totaling more than $200,000.
Discovery of Nicole Alston’s Remains
On December 6, 2007, law enforcement in Troup County, Georgia, discovered the remains of a woman in a burning bag along a roadside.
The body, which was missing its hands, feet, and head, could not be immediately identified, and the case quickly went cold. At the time, Alston’s family, who last had contact with her around Thanksgiving 2007, were unaware of her death.
Alston had moved to Atlanta earlier that year with her friend, Angel Marie Thompson.
Case Reopened: Identification and Investigation
The case remained unsolved for years until recent advancements in forensic technology led to a breakthrough. Alston’s remains were sent for testing at facilities in Houston and Virginia, and her identity was finally confirmed.
Upon this revelation, authorities reached out to Alston’s family, who confirmed that she had moved to Atlanta with Thompson in 2007.
The identification sparked a new investigation into the circumstances surrounding Alston’s death. Investigators discovered that someone had been collecting social security benefits, food stamps, and Section 8 housing assistance under Alston’s name for years following her death.
Thompson Charged with Fraud and Concealment
The investigation quickly revealed that Angel Marie Thompson had been fraudulently using Alston’s identity to obtain government benefits for nearly a decade.
Police allege that Thompson received over $200,000 in fraudulent payments, all while Alston’s death remained a mystery.
Thompson has now been charged with concealing Alston’s death and defrauding the government by committing identity theft.
While she faces significant legal consequences for these charges, she has not been charged with Alston’s murder.
The investigation into the cause of death and potential involvement of others remains ongoing.
Legal Implications and Ongoing Investigation
This case has garnered widespread attention for its disturbing details and the legal complexities surrounding identity fraud, government benefits theft, and cold case investigations.
The use of advanced forensic methods to identify Alston’s remains after nearly two decades highlights the evolving role of technology in criminal investigations.
Thompson’s charges raise important legal questions about the extent of liability in cases where an individual is not charged with a murder but is accused of benefiting from the death.
Additionally, the investigation into how Alston’s identity was used for such a long period without detection will likely lead to further scrutiny of the systems in place to prevent identity theft.
As the investigation continues, legal experts will closely follow the case to determine whether additional charges, including homicide, may be filed.
