The mummified body of an 89-year-old woman, who had died more than a year ago, was found in the basement of her house in Tyrol, after her son never reported the death to the authorities, so that she could continue to receive her pension.
“The investigation revealed that this 89-year-old woman died in June 2020 and the 66-year-old man maintained her body so that she could continue to receive her benefits,” police explained.
The suspect, who lived near Innsbruck, confessed that he froze his mother’s body so that it would not smell and wrapped it in bandages. He then covered it with cat litter, causing the corpse to be mummified. To his brother, when he asked to know the news of their mother, he said that the woman, who suffered from dementia and did not have much contact with the rest of the world, had been admitted for treatment.
The money was sent home monthly by postal check. But recently a new postman asked to see the beneficiary and when the son refused, he informed the authorities.
The 66-year-old is accused of fraud and insulting the dead.
