WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. —

A Derry Township woman is accused of trying to scam a company in North Carolina by faking her husband’s death. She is charged with forgery and attempted theft by deception.

"We got the call from North Carolina from Viking Steel," Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said. Advertisement

According to a criminal complaint, Viking Steel had an agreement to build a carport for Lori Shawley at her Derry Township property.

It was going to cost $14,800, and Shawley had made a down payment of $2,800.

In early August, Shawley called Viking Steel, saying that her husband, Simon, had died unexpectedly. She asked for a refund.

That's when Viking Steel called Carson.

"[They] wanted to know if this person had actually died," Carson said.

Shawley submitted a death cer

See Full Page