Italian Man Arrested After Allegedly Disguising Himself as His Dead Mother to Renew Her ID and Collect Pension Payments
MANTUA, ITALY — A 57-year-old man in northern Italy has been arrested after authorities say he disguised himself as his dead mother to renew her identity card and continue collecting her pension. The woman, 82-year-old Graziella Dall’Oglio, is believed to have died in 2022, yet police say her son never reported her death and continued living off her benefits.
The bizarre case unfolded when the man, wearing makeup, a wig, and his mother’s clothing, allegedly attempted to renew her expired ID card in person — a requirement under Italian law.
Officer Became Suspicious After Noticing Hair on “Elderly Woman’s” Neck and Chin
Authorities say the deception unraveled almost immediately. The officer processing the ID renewal noticed dark hair on the back of the neck, chin, and hands of the supposed elderly woman — prompting concerns about possible identity fraud.
Police were alerted and requested the “woman” return to the municipal office. Surveillance video later showed the suspect driving to the appointment while still dressed as his mother, despite the real Dall’Oglio never having held a driver’s license.
Officers confronted him in the parking lot.
Mother’s Mummified Body Discovered in Home Closet
When investigators searched the family home in Borgo Virgilio, they made a grim discovery: Dall’Oglio’s mummified body was found inside a laundry room closet, wrapped in sleeping bags.
Authorities believe the son allegedly removed bodily fluids with a syringe in an attempt to slow decomposition. An autopsy has been ordered to determine how she died and whether foul play was involved.
Suspect Accused of Fraud, Concealing a Body, and Forging State Documents
Police say the man — a former nurse currently unemployed — faces multiple charges, including:
- Concealing a corpse
- Fraud against the state
- Impersonation
- Forgery of a public document
He remains jailed as prosecutors await autopsy results.
Pension Fraud a Widespread Problem in Italy
Italian authorities say pension fraud cases like this are not uncommon. Dozens of people are arrested every year for impersonating deceased relatives to continue collecting benefits, often aided by outdated death-registry systems and delayed reporting between public agencies.
Investigators are now working to determine how long the suspect continued receiving his mother’s pension after her death.
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