Man jailed for keeping mother's body in freezer, claiming $105K in benefits for nearly 3 years
A man from the United Kingdom has been sentenced to prison for keeping his dead mother in a freezer and collecting $105,000 (~P6.3 million) in benefits for nearly three years.
Christopher Phillips, the 60-year-old son of the deceased Sylvia Phillips, received a jail sentence of two years and four months from the Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Aug. 3 for preventing the lawful burial of his mother.
Per a release by the South Wales Police, Christopher was arrested in February after authorities carried out a welfare check prompted by concerns over a woman who had not been seen by healthcare professionals since 2022, despite continuing to receive prescription medication and previously maintaining regular contact with medical service providers.
According to a report by the BBC, Christopher stored Sylvia's body in a chest freezer after her death in March 2023.
Almost three years later, Sylvia's doctor alerted police and asked them to check on her after their repeated attempts to contact her were blocked by her son. Her body was found wrapped in a leopard-print blanket, surrounded by flowers and a birthday card signed by Christopher. BBC reported that Christopher told doctors he "did not want to let her go" and "wanted more time" after Sylvia's passing.
According to reports, Christopher was adopted by Sylvia when he was two years old and later became her primary caregiver in 2008.
Christopher initially claimed that Sylvia had moved to London and refused medical treatment, but officers became suspicious.
A post-mortem could not determine the cause of Sylvia's death, though there was no evidence of foul play.
Christopher pleaded guilty to failing to lawfully bury his mother and fraudulently claiming her pension, housing benefits, and winter fuel payments after her death.
He unlawfully received around $105,000 in state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel, cost-of-living, and housing benefit payments that would have stopped had his mother's death been reported.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke sentenced Christopher to two years and four months in prison, saying he had deliberately concealed his mother's death and taken steps to make it appear she was still alive.