Cops: Man Lived with Dead Uncle for Month, Spent His Money

MERCED (KTLA) -- A man from Merced is accused of living with his dead uncle for almost 30 days while spending his money.

Authorities say Patrick Lara was supposed to be taking care of his 63-year-old uncle.

But police believe Lara left him in his bed to die, and then hatched a plan to profit from it.

Lara's mother eventually got into the house and found her brother dead.

Investigators say Lara used his uncle's ATM card and visited casinos.

They're still looking into possible murder charges, but an autopsy showed no clear cause of death.