The Aporia · Illinois woman allegedly hid mother’s body in freezer, stole $21,402 in benefits

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A Chicago case involving an elderly woman’s death has taken a new turn in federal court, with prosecutors alleging that her daughter concealed her mother’s body in a garage freezer for nearly two years while continuing to collect government benefits in her name. asserted

daughter → involve → name

According to the Chicago Tribune, Eva Bratcher, 72, has been indicted in U.S. District Court on two fraud counts tied to more than $20,000 in Social Security and food assistance benefits that prosecutors say were obtained after her mother’s death in 2021. uncertain

prosecutors → accord → 2021

The indictment was initially filed under seal in August and was announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a nationwide enforcement effort targeting Social Security fraud. asserted

indictment → file → fraud

Body allegedly kept in freezer The report states that according to federal prosecutors, Bratcher’s 96-year-old mother, Regina Michalski, died on March 4, 2021, at the Chicago home the two women shared. uncertain

women → keep → home

Authorities allege that about a week later, Bratcher purchased a new freezer and placed her mother’s body inside it. asserted

Bratcher → allege → it

Investigators later found the freezer receipt at the residence. asserted

Investigators → find → residence

The body remained undiscovered until January 2023, when a relative became suspicious and contacted Chicago police. asserted

relative → remain → police

An autopsy was subsequently conducted, although the results were inconclusive. The discovery triggered a separate criminal case in Cook County, where Bratcher was charged with concealing a death or moving a body and possessing a fraudulent identification document. Alleged identity theft The report also states that the federal prosecutors now allege that the concealment was accompanied by a broader effort to continue accessing benefits intended for Michalski. asserted

concealment → conduct → Michalski

The indictment alleges that Bratcher assumed her mother’s identity and continued receiving Social Security benefits after her death. asserted

Bratcher → allege → death

Prosecutors also accuse her of using her mother’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and an alternative Social Security number to obtain additional SNAP assistance for which she was allegedly not eligible. uncertain

she → accuse → which

The intended loss in the federal case is listed at $21,402. asserted

loss → intend → 21,402

Authorities also allege that Bratcher possessed at least one identification card bearing her mother’s name but Bratcher’s photograph when she was arrested in connection with the earlier case, the online report adds. asserted

report → allege → case

Earlier case ended in guilty plea The federal charges follow a state prosecution stemming from the discovery of Michalski’s body. asserted

charges → end → body

According to court records, Bratcher had recorded her mother’s death on a calendar at the home. uncertain

Bratcher → accord → home

She later pleaded guilty in August 2023 to concealing her mother’s death and received a sentence of 213 days in jail, with credit for time already served. asserted

She → plead → time

Bratcher, a U.S. Army veteran who was born in Poland, also had previous convictions for forgery, violating an order of protection and domestic battery, according to court records. uncertain

who → bear → records

The new federal indictment focuses specifically on the alleged theft of government benefits and identity-related fraud rather than the concealment of the body itself. asserted

indictment → focus → body

The charges were announced as part of a broader Justice Department initiative focused on fraud involving Social Security programs. asserted

charges → announce → programs

Federal authorities have increasingly targeted cases in which benefits continue to be collected after recipients die or are obtained through the use of another person's identity. asserted

recipients → target → identity

Bratcher is scheduled to make her first appearance in federal court at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. asserted

Bratcher → schedule → Chicago

Court records did not list an attorney for her at the time the charges were announced. asserted

charges → list → time

The federal indictment contains allegations, and Bratcher is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. asserted

Bratcher → contain → court

Illinois woman allegedly hid mother’s body in freezer, stole $21,402 in benefits

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