Local jail employee accused of fraud and contributing to the death of Utah man
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POCATELLO — A Bannock County Jail employee faces accusations of contributing to the death of a championship speed skater in Utah.
Marina Billings is accused of financial exploitation and aggravated abuse of 68-year-old Boris Leikin alongside her husband Robert Billings. Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Utah, reports Leikin died in July from a form of mad cow disease.
With news of Billings facing charges in Utah, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Wednesday saying the jail booking deputy is on administrative leave while the county conducts an internal investigation.
“The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office expects the highest professional conduct of its employees both on-and off-duty, which includes conformance to laws,” Bannock County Sheriff Tony Manu said in a news release. “The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office is cooperating fully with the Utah investigation.”
Fox 13 reports Billings left her Pocatello, Idaho home and moved in with Leikin, who lived in the Salt Lake City suburb of Cottonwood Heights. The seemingly healthy man’s health began to decline after Billings moved in.
Investigators believe Billings and her husband tried taking advantage of Leikin by getting him to sign a will that would name her as the beneficiary as his health was deteriorating. Police are still trying to figure out if the couple intentionally got Leikin sick, Fox 13 reports.
Billings has worked for Bannock County since July 2014.
EastIdahoNews.com is continuing to work on this developing story.