An unusual and controversial case has surfaced in Indiana, where a father and daughter reportedly married to help the daughter secretly collect her father’s monthly Veterans benefits.
Authorities say Bradley McCollom, 59, and his 44-year-old daughter Kimberley Tempel tied the knot last July under questionable circumstances.
Court documents reveal a series of lies about their relationship, including false claims made on their marriage license application.
False Claims on Marriage License Raise Red Flags
When applying for their marriage license, Tempel falsely stated that she wasn’t married and that McCollom was no closer than a second cousin.
These lies were brought to light during the investigation, revealing that Tempel was in the middle of a divorce when she married her father.
Further court documents indicate that McCollom was incarcerated for parole violations at the time of the marriage.
Tempel also made misleading claims about McCollom’s criminal history, asserting that he had no history of being a sex or violent offender.
However, McCollom has a federal child pornography charge on his record dating back to 2008.
Family Member Exposes Marriage Scam
McCollom’s sister became aware of the situation and informed the authorities about the suspicious marriage.
She claimed that Tempel and McCollom had falsified their marriage to allow Tempel to claim her father’s $350 monthly Veterans payment.
To back up her claims, McCollom’s sister provided DNA test results that confirmed a 99.999999% probability of McCollom being Tempel’s father.
Despite being estranged for years, McCollom and Tempel reconnected through letters and emails while he was in federal prison, the documents indicate.
Tempel Faces Charges for Falsifying Documents
Tempel was arrested and charged with providing false information on a marriage license application and felony attempted bigamy, the crime of marrying someone who is already married. However, she was later released.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s spokesman, Anthony Aussieker, confirmed that the core issue in the case was the falsification of their relationship on the marriage application.
According to Aussieker, both McCollom and Tempel denied being closely related, which was later proven to be false.
Questions Over DNA Results and Relationship
Adding a twist to the case, someone with knowledge of the situation reportedly contacted a local outlet, claiming that McCollom was not Tempel’s biological father.
They presented documentation from a DNA center that contradicted earlier claims.
The outlet stated that they had not yet been able to verify these new claims and were waiting for further information.
Legal Implications and Marital Restrictions
Indiana law prohibits individuals from marrying if they are more closely related than second cousins.
There are, however, some exceptions, including if both individuals are first cousins and at least 65 years old.
The unusual case has raised questions about the legality of their marriage and the motivations behind it.
Authorities continue to investigate the situation, with more details expected to emerge in the coming weeks.