Italian authorities have arrested a 57-year-old man after he allegedly disguised himself as his deceased mother to renew her identity card and continue collecting her state pension.
The arrest took place on November 20, 2025, following a failed in-person renewal attempt that raised immediate suspicion at the local registry office.
Police said the man, a former nurse, did not report the death of his mother, Graziella Dall’Oglio, who died in 2022 at the age of 82.
Instead, investigators say he kept her body inside their home in Borgo Virgilio and continued receiving her pension payments for years.
Authorities said the deception came to light when the suspect arrived for the ID renewal in early November 2025, dressed in a wig, makeup, jewelry and women’s clothing in an effort to pass as the elderly woman.
Staff noticed inconsistencies in physical appearance and behaviour, prompting a report to police.
A subsequent search of the house on November 20 led to the discovery of Dall’Oglio’s mummified remains concealed in a closet and wrapped in sleeping bags.
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Local officials estimate the suspect may have unlawfully collected about €53,000 in pension benefits.
He is now facing charges including benefit fraud, identity fraud, falsifying public documents and concealment of a corpse.
Authorities say an autopsy is being carried out to formally establish the cause of Dall’Oglio’s death, though early indications point to natural causes.
Local officials described the case as deeply disturbing, with the mayor of Borgo Virgilio calling it “a profoundly sad and unsettling incident.”