JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — A woman admits she kept the dead body of her companion in their southern Michigan house but says it was for months, not more than a year as police believe.

Linda Chase tells the Jackson Citizen Patriot (http://bit.ly/LFt7F6) that she expects to go to prison for cashing Charles Zigler's benefit checks after his death. Jackson police last week found his remains in a chair in the living room.

Police believe the 67-year-old Zigler died of natural causes in December 2010, but Chase says it was only last December. She says Zigler "just fell asleep."

Chase says she kept the body clean and dressed and talked to it while watching NASCAR on television. She says, "I didn't want to be alone."

Zigler's son, Wally Zigler, says it's not right.

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Information from: Jackson Citizen Patriot, http://www.mlive.com/jackson