Man prints premature obituary for mother in ploy to get bereavement time off from work

A Pennsylvania man published an obituary for his still-living mother in an attempt to get paid bereavement time off from work, authorities say.

Relatives called The Jeffersonian Democrat newspaper in Brookville, Pennsylvania, after the obituary appeared to report that the woman was actually alive and well and to underscore that, the woman visited the paper, too.



Brookville police charged Scott Bennett, 45, with disorderly conduct on Tuesday. Democrat editor Randy Bartley says he accepted the obituary in good faith after he was unable to confirm the funeral arrangements at press time.

He said the woman was very understanding. Police Chief Ken Dworek says Bennett wrote up the memorial notice because he didn't want to get fired for taking time off.