Italian authorities have uncovered a shocking case where a man allegedly dressed as his dead mother to collect her pension.
The 56-year-old, who has not been named, reportedly hid his mother’s mummified body at their home for three years.
Local media have compared the case to a “Mrs. Doubtfire scandal” because of how far he went to impersonate her.
His mother, Graziella Dall’Oglio, died at age 82 and her death was never reported. Instead, he placed her body inside a sleeping bag and left it in the laundry room.
By the time police discovered the body, it had already mummified, reports say.
He allegedly copied his mother’s makeup, clothing and mannerisms in order to fool officials.
Shockingly, he even managed to renew her identity card at a government office after she had died.
Authorities believe he was able to cash about $61,000 a year using her pension and property income.
The disguise was described as a full “Mrs. Doubtfire-style transformation.”
In the 1993 movie, Robin Williams disguises himself as an elderly woman to spend time with his kids.
In this case, the impersonation was used to keep collecting pension money.
How the scam came crashing down
The scheme might have continued longer, if not for an observant government worker.
During an in-person visit, they noticed that the woman’s voice sounded too deep and her neck looked “thick.”
They also thought certain facial features looked more masculine. That raised red flags, and the worker informed authorities.
Investigators then compared photos of Dall’Oglio before her death with newer images. They quickly realized the person in those images was her son.
Police then searched the home and found the mother’s body, still inside the sleeping bag. Officials do not currently suspect foul play in her death.
Mayor Francesco Aporti called it “a very strange story and very, very sad.”
He said, “She probably died of natural causes but that will be established by the postmortem.”
The son is now being investigated for illegally concealing a body and pension fraud. It remains unclear whether he has been officially arrested or charged.
Authorities have not released further information, and the autopsy is still pending.
