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Veteran whose decomposing body was found in home is laid to rest during military funeral

Posted at 2:15 PM, Apr 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-21 19:52:23-04

The remains of Army veteran Bob Harris are now in a final resting place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. 

A military funeral took place there Friday, giving peace to his family still struggling to understand what happened to Harris.

The remains of the 71-year-old were carried Friday by Army servicemen to honor the Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart a Bronze Star for his service.

RELATED: Family accused of stealing dead veteran's social security money while living in home with his body

But the dignified ceremony was a stark contrast to the way the veteran's body was treated for months. 

In March, Harris' badly decomposing remains were discovered in a Tuscarawas County home.

Harris had moved in with people his family didn't know but, when the vet died, detectives say Brian and Stacy Sorohan and their daughter Brianna continued to live there while the body rotted. 

The couple is also accused of stealing Harris' Social Security benefits after he died. 

"What they did to him was crazy," said Harris' daughter Yvette Jordan. "I can't understand how somebody could do that."

It's still not clear how Harris died but his family says a distinguished veteran certainly deserved better.

On Friday, his family was grateful for the chance to say a final goodbye. 

"It means a lot to us to know that he's finally going to be at rest in peace," said Larry Harris, the veteran's brother. "I hope he can rest in peace. I think he will."

The case against the family goes to a grand jury next week. 

MORE: Family of dead veteran angry that body wasinhome for months while others allegedly stole benefits