An Italian man has been accused of dressing in his deceased mother’s clothing to collect her pension while keeping her body hidden at their residence.
The 56-year-old man, who worked as a nurse in Mantua, reportedly obtained thousands of euros before his alleged scheme was uncovered by Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Allegedly, he stored his late mother, Graziella Dall’Oglio’s, body at their family home where it mummified over the course of around three years since her passing at the age of 82. Instead of reporting her death, he wrapped her body in a sheet, placed it in a sleeping bag, and concealed it in the house.
In an elaborate ruse, the man purportedly disguised himself as his mother by wearing makeup, including lipstick and foundation, along with jewelry, to renew her identity card at a government office in Borgo Virgilio. He even mimicked his mother’s hairstyle and donned additional accessories to complete the transformation.
His attempt at impersonation, likened to the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire,” caught the attention of an observant employee who noticed discrepancies in the supposed woman’s appearance and behavior, prompting a report to the authorities.
Upon investigation, officials compared photos of the real Ms. Dall’Oglio with her son’s and discerned the deception. The man had been benefiting from his mother’s pension, amassing an annual income of approximately £47,000 and owning three properties.
Following his arrest, police searched his residence and discovered Ms. Dall’Oglio’s mummified body concealed in the laundry room. The mayor of Borgo Virgilio, Francesco Aporti, described the man’s odd features that raised suspicions, leading to the uncovering of the deceit.
Authorities confirmed that the mother’s body was found wrapped in bed sheets and a sleeping bag, exhibiting signs of mummification. The remains were transferred to the local hospital for a post-mortem examination. The man is now facing charges of concealing a body illegally and committing benefit fraud.