Police in Indiana say a woman and her father cooked up a bizarre scheme to maintain his veteran’s benefits while heâs in prison. Kimberly Tempel, 44, and Bradley McCollum, 59, each face felony charges for falsifying information on a marriage certificate. Not only did Tempel already have a husband, but also she and McCollum, her biological father, married each other. And it apparently didnât end there. The pair allegedly lied on several different parts of the marriage application, raising red flags.
According to WEHT, Vanderburgh County court officials sent information to Evansville police regarding issues with Tempel and McCollumâs marriage license application. The pair allegedly said they were no closer than second cousins, which is not the case.
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âThe biggest issue was in regards to their actual relationship,â Public Information Officer Anthony Aussieker said, per WEHT. âThey both answered the question saying that they were not closely related, that was later determined to be false. That was some of the issues that came up with the falsifying of the marriage application.â
Additionally, Tempel and her ex-husband remained married when the application was filled out. âFor that roughly four or five day span, she was still legally married to her prior husband which would make it illegal to marry someone else,â Aussieker added.
Tempel and McCollum allegedly filled out the marriage license application on July 26, 2024. The Warrick County clerk married them the same day.
WPTA reported additional inaccuracies on the marriage license. McCollum reportedly claimed he is not a convicted lifetime sex or violent offender. However, he has a prior federal child pornography conviction. Additionally, McCollum gave an incorrect address.
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Investigators spoke to McCollumâs sister, who provided DNA evidence. She and Tempel reportedly share 28.39% of their DNA, and McCollum had a nearly 100% chance of being her father, WPTA reported. The sister allegedly told investigators the pair began communicating via letters after McCollum went to federal prison. Tempel reportedly knew McCollum as her biological father her entire life.
McCollumâs sister told investigators she believed the pair married so Tempel could receive her fatherâs $350 monthly benefits from Veterans Affairs.
