Crime & Law

Chicago Woman Accused of Social Security Fraud After Hiding Mother’s Body in Freezer for 2 Years

A Chicago woman, who previously pleaded guilty to concealing her dead mother’s body in a freezer for two years, now faces federal charges alleging she fraudulently collected more than $20,000 in Social Security and SNAP benefits during that time.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced the charges against Eva Bratcher, 72, who was indicted late last month on counts including theft of government property and fraud, misrepresentation or misuse of Social Security benefits.

Those charges come more than three years after Bratcher was arrested following the discovery of her mother’s body at the home they shared in the 5500 block of West Melrose Street. Cook County prosecutors at the time alleged Bratcher purchased a freezer a week after her elderly mother — 96-year-old Regina Michalski — died and used it to conceal her body for nearly two years.

That discovery came after Bratcher’s estranged daughter contacted Chicago police asking for a well-being check on Michalski because she had not been seen in some time.

Police searched the home in early 2023 and found Michalski’s body inside a freezer in the garage, prosecutors said, along with a calendar that apparently indicated Michalski had died on March 4, 2021.

Bratcher pleaded guilty later in 2023 to concealing a death and possessing a fraudulent ID card and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Now Bratcher faces new felony charges after federal prosecutors alleged she assumed Michalski’s identity in the two years following her mother’s death, collected her mother’s SSA benefits and used her mother’s SNAP benefits.

Bratcher also allegedly used an alternative Social Security number to steal additional SNAP benefits, according to federal officials. In all, she’s accused of netting $21,402.

The new charges — which were filed in August — were announced Tuesday as part of a DOJ enforcement effort targeting Social Security fraud.

“The Social Security Administration’s benefits programs are meant to safeguard America’s elderly and most vulnerable — not to bankroll fraudsters,” Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, of the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, said in a statement. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from a retiree’s medicine, meals, or housing. These cases represent just a fraction of the fraud we are aggressively pursuing every day. The egregious facts uncovered in these cases underscore why our mission to combat fraud — large or small — is vital to protecting public trust and ensuring justice.”

Bratcher is scheduled to appear in a Chicago courtroom for her initial appearance and arraignment Thursday.

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