FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A Cumberland County man has pleaded guilty after authorities said he concealed the body of his deceased cousin in a bedroom closet for more than eight months while continuing to collect benefits intended for the victim.

According to reports, Steven Blankenship, 59, of Fairfield Township, admitted to charges related to the death of his 72-year-old cousin, Michael Blankenship, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Prosecutors said the defendant hid the body inside a closet and continued receiving financial benefits after his cousin’s death.

Authorities discovered the remains in April 2025 after New Jersey State Police conducted a welfare check at the residence. Investigators reported detecting a strong odor of decomposition before entering the home, where they found the victim’s body wrapped in multiple layers of plastic and concealed inside a rear bedroom closet. Court records indicate the closet had been sealed, and investigators also recovered a handwritten note allegedly explaining the circumstances surrounding the death and the continued use of the victim’s financial resources.

Prosecutors said Steven Blankenship collected benefits intended for his cousin for more than eight months following the death. Investigators also alleged that he used the victim’s credit card during that period.

As part of a plea agreement, Blankenship pleaded guilty to charges including desecration of human remains and theft by deception. Prosecutors are expected to recommend a 10-year prison sentence, and he has also agreed to pay restitution to the New Jersey Department of Labor.

Michael Blankenship, a Marine Corps veteran, was later laid to rest with full military honors.

Blankenship’s sentencing is scheduled for December 11.

Source: Based on reporting from 6abc Philadelphia.

South Jersey man Steven Blankenship pleads guilty to hiding dead cousin’s body in closet to collect benefits – 6abc Philadelphia