Overview
- Lori Shawley of Derry Township is accused of submitting a forged death certificate to Viking Steel to cancel a $14,800 carport contract and obtain a refund.
- Authorities say the document bore counterfeit signatures of Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson and Chief Deputy Coroner Al Lonzo.
- Carson reported signs of fakery on the certificate, including white-out marks and a seal that was not an official county seal.
- After checks with state records and a confirmation that Simon Shawley was alive, police took Lori Shawley into custody on forgery and attempted theft by deception charges.
- Viking Steel, based in Elkin, N.C., had received a $2,800 down payment and contacted the coroner when an employee suspected the document was not legitimate.