In a bizarre case that has been likened to the plot of the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire,” a 56-year-old unemployed Italian man has been accused of impersonating his deceased mother to collect her pension. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly kept his mother’s mummified remains hidden in their family home for three years while he continued to cash her pension checks.
The man’s mother, Graziella Dall’Oglio, passed away at the age of 82. Instead of reporting her death, her son allegedly concealed her body in a sleeping bag and stored it in the laundry room of their home. By the time authorities discovered Dall’Oglio’s remains, her body had mummified.
The son is said to have gone to great lengths to maintain the deception, even impersonating his mother down to her makeup. He was reportedly able to renew her identity card at a government office in Mantua, a city on the outskirts of Italy, after her death.
With his mother’s pension and income from a property portfolio of three houses, the man was allegedly able to pocket approximately $61,000 annually. The case has been compared to the 1993 film “Mrs. Doubtfire,” in which Robin Williams’ character disguises himself as a housekeeper to spend time with his children following a divorce.
The scheme was eventually uncovered by a government employee who noticed the man’s masculine features, including a low voice and thick neck. The employee alerted authorities, who compared photos of Dall’Oglio and her son and realized the deception.
When authorities searched the family home, they discovered Dall’Oglio’s mummified body. However, officials do not suspect any foul play in her death. “She probably died of natural causes but that will be established by the postmortem. It is a very strange story and very, very sad,” said Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio.
An official autopsy has not yet been concluded. The son is currently under investigation for illegally concealing a body and benefit fraud. It remains unclear whether he has been arrested.