Kimberly Tempel, Tell City, Indiana woman marries her biological father, Bradly McCollom of Evansville, a violent sex offender in order to falsely receive his $350 monthly veteran affairs benefits.
An Indiana woman is facing charges of bigamy and falsifying a marriage license after marrying her biological father while still married to another man in an attempt to receive her dad’s $350 monthly payments from Veterans Affairs while the parent was locked up in prison.
Kimberly Tempel, 44, of Tell City, allegedly lied on her application by saying she wasn’t already married and claiming that her ‘husband’ was no closer than a second cousin, according to WPTA. In reality, Tempel filed for a marriage license to wed her biological dad, Bradly McCollom, 59, of Evansville, who is in prison on a probation violation. Police say she listed numerous inaccuracies on the application.
In addition to lying about who he was, Tempel claimed McCollom was not a convicted lifetime sex or violent offender — both untrue, according to Evansville police. He reportedly has a federal child p*rn charge on his record. Addresses that Tempel and McCollom listed were also false.
Accused woman’s biological father was only 15 when his daughter was born
Tempel was reportedly in the middle of a divorce when she and McCollom got married on July 26, 2024 in Vanderburgh County. McCollom’s sister allegedly told police that Tempel and McCollom had falsified a marriage license to get his $350 VA payments. McCollom has been locked up on a probation violation charge, but he’s due to get out on July 29.
McCollum’s sister allegedly provided documentation that provided information she obtained from a DNA service showing the probability of McCollum being Tempel’s biological father as ‘99.999999%,‘ WPTA reports.
McCollom and Tempel were estranged when he went to prison for federal charges, with the pair soon after communicating via letters and emails, court documents state. Upon release, Tempel moved in with him.
Tempell according to court documents said that even though they were estranged, the daughter has known her entire life that McCollum is her father.
Knowingly providing false information on a marriage license is a felony.
Following her arrest, Tempel was taken into custody and charged with providing false information on marriage license application and bigamy. Tempel has since been released.
McCollom is also facing charges of providing false information in his marriage license application.
But there’s more.
Come Wednesday, WEHT reported that ‘someone with knowledge of the case’ contacted the outlet and claimed the accusations of Tempel being McCollom’s daughter were false. Documentation was sent by the person who appears to show a test from DNA Diagnostics Center claiming McCollom is not Tempel’s father, but WEHT has been unable to verify the claims as further tests are pending.
According to Indiana law, two individuals cannot marry if they are more closely related that second cousins.
Some exceptions are in place however, with individuals who are first cousins and both at least 65 years old allowed to marry.
