Unique Mica Green-Battle, an unlicensed operator behind Third Ward’s A Community Funeral Home, pulled up to a Harris County courthouse on Friday facing five heavy felony charges after prosecutors accused her of stealing a staggering $2.2 million from a deceased man’s estate.
Now, instead of keeping a low profile, Green-Battle decided to pop off on news crews waiting outside, after a judge slapped her with an $800,000 bond and strictly banned her from working anywhere near the funeral industry while her case plays out.
The outrageous scheme allegedly began last summer when 78-year-old Lawrence Gammon passed away inside his Houston home. When his out of state family requested a police welfare check and learned the sad news, they innocently turned to Green-Battle’s business to handle his cremation. Prosecutors say that instead of providing compassionate service, Green-Battle allegedly took the family’s personal information and concocted a massive fraud. Within weeks, court records reveal she filed a forged last will and testament claiming to be Gammon’s common-law wife and sole heir.
Chief of Consumer Fraud Adam Brodrick called out the lie directly, noting that state records show the two had absolutely no relationship prior to Gammon’s death.
While pretending to be a grieving widow, Green-Battle allegedly drained nearly $2.2 million from Gammon’s bank accounts, including a massive $1.3 million wire transfer executed just five days after seizing control, stole his three vehicles, and took over his home.
When Gammon’s family tried to fly down from Seattle to retrieve his personal belongings, Green-Battle allegedly blocked them, lying that the residence was under a strict hazmat order. Investigators who rushed to the property later caught a crew of roughly 15 masked men physically tossing Gammon’s life belongings into giant rental dumpsters.
Green-Battle remains charged with five felony offenses connected to the investigation.
The criminal case is ongoing.