MERCER TWP — An Erie man is accused of stealing from his dead sister and her husband.

State police said 42-year-old Lonnie Bowers took the property and credit cards from the victims’ home in Mercer Township as his late sister lay on her death bed.

Police on Monday got an arrest warrant for Bowers, who is charged with 26 criminal counts, including 11 felonies.

Thomas Ray, 54, told investigators he invited the suspect, his brother-in-law, to his home Dec. 5 to spend time with his wife, 48-year-old Sandra D. Ray, during her last days in the hospital and for her funeral, according to a police report.

The defendant remained there until Dec. 12, the day of his sister’s private funeral service and burial.

But after Bowers left to return home, Ray noticed several items missing from the house. Two credit cards belonging to Ray and his deceased wife also were gone.

Additionally, police said, he discovered a number of fraudulent charges made with those credit cards at gas stations, discount and department stores and an auto parts shop.

Some of the charges were made while the defendant was in Butler County for his sister’s anticipated funeral. Bowers allegedly made additional charges with the victims’ credit cards after returning to Erie.

Bowers is charged with 11 counts of access device fraud, a felony. Additionally, he is charged with 11 counts of forgery, and two counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, all misdemeanors.