A Beaverton woman who collected government benefits as the body of her dead son lay in a bedroom of her home for five months was sentenced Tuesday to four years and nine months in prison.
Melissa Lappin, 44, earlier this summer pleaded guilty to several felonies, including abusing a corpse, first-degree theft and first-degree forgery for her continued collection of state benefits after the death of her son, Eric, in May 2024.
Eric Lappin was 26 when he died, Washington County Deputy District Attorney Christina Luedtke said during Lappin’s sentencing hearing…