Federal prosecutors filed a sealed indictment on Aug. 3, 2025, accusing 72‑year‑old Eva Bratcher of fraudulently collecting $21,402 in Social Security and SNAP benefits after her 96‑year‑old mother, Regina Michalski, died on March 4, 2021—U.S. Department of Justice said.
The indictment alleges Bratcher purchased a new freezer within a week of Michalski’s death, stored the body inside, and kept the receipt as evidence. Police discovered the freezer in January 2023 when a relative noticed missing items and called the Chicago Police Department.
Earlier, Cook County prosecutors charged Bratcher with concealing a death and possessing a fraudulent ID. She pleaded guilty in Aug. 2023, receiving 213 days in jail and credit for time served, a Cook County court filing showed.
The DOJ said the federal case is part of a nationwide effort to target Social Security fraud following deaths. Bratcher is scheduled to appear in federal court at the Dirksen Courthouse, where a judge will set a trial date.