A 56-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, residing in Borgo Virgilio, near Mantua in northern Italy, continued to receive thousands of euros in his mother's pension each month after her death in 2022. The Guardian reported this on 25/11.

Instead of reporting his mother's passing, the man concealed her body at home. Each month, he would don a wig, apply makeup, wear earrings resembling his mother's, and go to collect her pension. He was only discovered early this month when he appeared in disguise at the local council office to renew an identity card.

The man in Borgo Virgilio (right) and his deceased mother. Photo: CNN

Francesco Aporti, Mayor of Borgo Virgilio, stated that the man had carefully disguised himself when he appeared at the office, meticulously painting his nails, applying lipstick, wearing jewelry, and attempting to mimic a female voice.

However, the "elderly woman" occasionally spoke in a male voice, which aroused suspicion in a council employee. Upon closer observation, the employee noticed the man's neck was somewhat thick, his wrinkles appeared unnatural, and his hands did not resemble those of an 85-year-old woman.

The employee immediately reported the incident to the police. Authorities subsequently launched an investigation, searched the man's home, and discovered the deceased mother's body hidden in the laundry room.

According to the Corriere newspaper, the man is an unemployed nurse, who had an annual income of 53,000 euros (over 61,000 USD) from his mother's pension and owns three properties.

This is not the first instance in Italy of children concealing the bodies of deceased parents to defraud benefits. In 2023, officials in Verona also discovered a man who had hidden his mother's body in his home for five years to receive her pension.

Ngoc Anh (According to Guardian, Corriere)