Woman Hid Dead Mom In Garage Freezer To Steal SNAP, Social Security: Authorities

CHICAGO — A Chicago woman hid her mother’s body in a garage freezer for over a year while collecting the dead woman’s Social Security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Eva Bratcher’s case was one of 17 highlighted in a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division, which brought charges in recent weeks against the defendants, who collectively caused over $1.3 million in intended loss to the U.S., according to authorities.

Bratcher, who is charged with government property theft and fraud, misrepresentation or misuse of Social Security benefits, caused $21,402 in intended loss, authorities said.

Tuesday’s announcement comes about three years after she was charged at the county level with hiding the body, WLS reported, adding she was sentenced to over 200 days in jail for the local charges.

Bratcher and her 96-year-old mother, Regina Michalski, lived together in an apartment building in the 5500 block of West Melrose Street on the city’s northwest side when her mother died March 4, 2021, in the home, an event that occurred at 2 p.m., as recorded on a calendar in the residence, according to Bratcher’s bond proffer.

About a week later, Bratcher bought a storage freezer, put her mother’s body inside and moved it to the garage, the proffer said.

On Jan. 30, 2023, Bratcher’s estranged daughter called Chicago police for a well-being check on the deceased and officers arrived to find the freezer containing the body, according to the proffer, which said Bratcher was arrested.

A receipt for the freezer was recovered at the scene, as was proof of a fraudulent state identification card with the mother’s name but Bratcher’s photo, as well as a document signed in the deceased’s name but dated after her death, the proffer said.

She had been collecting rent from other tenants in the building and told neighbors her mother was in a nursing home, the proffer said.

Bratcher’s criminal history includes multiple previous forgery cases as well as domestic battery and violation of an order of protection, according to the proffer.