Crime

Man Hid Mother’s Dead Body in Couch For Years to Collect Her Social Security Checks

Investigators believe a 67-year-old man concealed his mother’s decomposing body at their home in rural northwestern Wisconsin for years so he could continue to receive her $1,100 monthly social security checks.

Deputies went to the house in Washburn County in June after a postal worker contacted authorities because mail had not been collected. WQOW-TV reported Wednesday that they found Michael Egan’s body on a bedroom floor. He had been dead for more than a week.

Cadaver dogs later found the remains of his mother, Elizabeth, on a couch under rags, sleeping bags and plastic.

Investigators don’t know how long Elizabeth Egan had been dead but say she was last seen in 2005 when she was 95 years old.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Comments (122)

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  • The Divided States of America
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:38pm

    I can’t believe the cruel , callous, socio-pathic remarks on this web site…and the majority of you call yourselves christian republicans ? I’m embarrassed to be a part of this forum…god bless the deceased’s souls and may each one of you personally do some serious soul searching !!! maybe you will find some of christ’s compassion ?

    Report Post » The Divided States of America  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:49pm

      You don’t seriously believe everyone on this site is a Christian/Republican or Conservative. There are many trolls posting on this site, and also some with a macabre sense of humor. You will find many who feel compassion, as you do, so take heart. God bless.

      Report Post »  
    • REETZBEE
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:53pm

      Lighten up!

      Report Post » REETZBEE  
    • Dinkiecb
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:56pm

      well we’re embarrassed that you forgot to take your medication, but welcome to the real world…ya should’ve taken the blue pill.

      Report Post »  
    • patriotforlife
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:12pm

      Typical liberal act. Money for nothing.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:57pm

      Where’s your mom? Oh…aaa…she’s laying down on the couch

      Report Post »  
    • ZengaPA65
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:02pm

      “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”

      He must have had a bad day.

      Report Post » ZengaPA65  
    • ZengaPA65
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:05pm

      I guess kicking over tables and beating people with a whip was compassion too. Christians are such jackasses.

      Report Post » ZengaPA65  
    • BuckOfama
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:19pm

      Dear divided states of America, may I be frank? PFFFFFFFFFT……..

      Report Post »  
    • golfputter
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:21pm

      Now you sound like Bill Maher who tries to convince everyone that only Conservatives are Christ followers. There are many Liberal followers of Christ. Get over it. If you think the comments are over the top here, go to the huffington post, or some of the leftest sites if you want to read some real vile.

      Report Post »  
    • GIDEON612
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:35pm

      @golfputter
      You are very wrong.
      There is no such thing as a liberal Christian. That is an oxymoron. Just like the story of a lesbian pastor. If you believe that these are followers of Christ you are only part right. Paul warned true followers of Jesus, in Corinth, to beware of those that preach of another jesus, just like you.

      Report Post » GIDEON612  
    • denise55
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:07pm

      Careful, don’t choke on that halo you have around your neck.

      Report Post » denise55  
    • mossbrain
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:26am

      buckofama, damn funny post of yours. It almost went right over my head.

      Report Post » mossbrain  
    • mossbrain
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:34am

      hey divided states. One of the investigators sat down on a fuzzy throw pillow only to find out it was the old bats ****** that had broken off of the body. He looked at it and said hey all the stuffings coming out of this throw pillow. As he reached inside it and threw what he thought was foam at his partner something bit his hand, it was a rat who had made a den inside her hair pie. harharhar.

      Report Post » mossbrain  
    • GIDEON612
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 9:04am

      @denise55

      Sorry for your loss

      Report Post » GIDEON612  
  • YepImaConservative
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:38pm

    About 6 years ago Lenny moved out of granny’s house and asked his brother Bobby to watch over her, the cat, house, get granny’s mail and deposit her SS check for her. About a week later, Lenny calls home and asks Bobby “How’s my cat?”.

    Bobby hesitated and sadly told Lenny his cat died.

    “What?! You shouldn’t have broke the news to me like that! You should have done it slowly. The first time I called, you should have told me he was on the roof. The second time I called, you should have said there was no way to get him down. The third time I called, you should have told me that you tried to get the cat off the roof, but she fell off and died,” explained Lenny.

    Bobby apologized and went about his day.

    About a week later, Lenny called again and asked “How’s Granny?”.

    There was a long silence and then Bobby replied. “Well, she’s on the roof.”

    Report Post » YepImaConservative  
  • trooper
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:34pm

    The question is, was Evans Black or white, since it was not reported I have to believe he was ……………..

    Report Post »  
  • handsoffmystuff
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:26pm

    Now for Sale on Craigslist: Used Couch. Good condition. The slight moldy smell can be removed with Febreeze

    Report Post »  
  • straytrooper
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:16pm

    They needed cadaver dogs?

    Report Post »  
    • Bear
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:22pm

      Great! The SOB is dead and will never have to pay for it! This has got to stop…Our White house,Government and system of laws are out of control!

      Report Post » Bear  
    • mermaid
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:27pm

      Well said! lol

      Report Post »  
    • Jack2011
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:35pm

      Great! The SOB is dead and will never have to pay for it!
      _____
      If the guy inherited the house from the mother (or was supposed to), maybe the government can seize the house/land or put a lien on it for whatever the guy owed.

      Report Post »  
    • texanpatriot
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:38am

      Have a couch in there worth something. The story alone would help the purchaser overlook the smell.

      Report Post » texanpatriot  
  • blazed904
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:16pm

    But WE CAN’T reform social security….. Right dems? GOD FORBID THAT GETS PUT ON THE TABLE

    Report Post »  
  • VegasLibertarian
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:09pm

    You’d think the press would have shown up on her 100th birthday to celebrate.

    Report Post » VegasLibertarian  
  • Poogie
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:07pm

    This is why we need SS reform.

    Report Post » Poogie  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:05pm

    Damn liberals making money off dead people . Oh well not so bizzare when you consider the source.

    Report Post »  
    • BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:04pm

      It‘s not that I don’t agree, it’s just how do you police such a situation like this. As soon as a person reaches say, 80 years, the government gives them a call once a year to make sure they are still alive?

      “Hello there, Granny Maybel, just your yearly check to see if you’ve kicked the bucket yet so we can stop sending you that check.”

      This guy deliberately deceived the system. And there is one thing about bad guys which never changes- as soon as you create regulations to counter their deceit and thievery, they will develop new ways to deceive and and steal.

      Report Post » BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:24pm

      @BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET? You want the government calling your house every year ? pppfft. ??????????????????????????????

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • sWampy
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 1:57pm

      Yearly face to face meetings, people come in on their own, pay them extra $100, they make you come see them, no extra $100, do neither, removed from system. Mississippi started doing this, and close to 1/3 of those apparently were fraudulent the system, because they chose to have themselves removed, rather than come in, or let someone stop by.

      Report Post »  
  • let us prey
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:55pm

    Neighbors of Ed Gein?

    Report Post » let us prey  
  • slvrserfr
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:53pm

    This should bring about more Social Security reform that additional security measures should be taken to ensure that checks are most likely going to the right person, especially after they reach the average life expectancy. It took them this long to realize that this woman they’re sending checks to would be 101 years old.

    Report Post »  
  • semihardrock
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:53pm

    So the Democratic Wisconsin voter was TOO LAZY ….to dig a hole in the back yard IN ORDER to recieve the free “Government Check”

    For the “First Time in my Life” I am Proud to be an Amer……..OH WAIT…This doesnt work in this case!

    Report Post » semihardrock  
  • HD Veteran
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:51pm

    Entitlements at work. Bet he voted Democrat.

    Report Post » HD Veteran  
  • Susie
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:50pm

    Man, how could he have lived with the stench, the filth and the maggots of a rotting body ???
    Unbelievable !!!!!!!!
    By the way Blaze, you spelled checks wrong. It’s cheques.
    Someone finally checked on the 67 year old man, who had been
    collecting his dead mother’s social security cheques for who knows how long.

    Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:57pm

      Only if you’re British. In America we cash checks. They can be any color even…

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:58pm

      In America, it’s spelled checks. You must be British.

      Report Post »  
    • rojotx
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:00pm

      checks, noun!

      http://www.investorwords.com/844/check.html

      Report Post » rojotx  
    • VegasLibertarian
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:14pm

      I’m gonna file that away in the who-gives-a-crap drawer. Sure, grammar’s important but this is Wisconsin. Oh wait, that’s right, That‘s where the teacher’s union cares so much for the children. Point taken, “Cheques” it is.

      Report Post » VegasLibertarian  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:14pm

      Well I was going to correct Susie but I see there is no reason. Way to go, I don‘t make it a habit of correcting anything especially spelling because I don’t want to be called out. We all make spelling mistakes at some time. But this was more,

      Report Post »  
    • Want our country back
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:52pm

      Canadians spell it cheques also….

      Report Post » Want our country back  
    • rojotx
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:07pm

      @want our country back….Canadians…..British….see something familiar here! hint; Queen!

      Report Post » rojotx  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:10pm

      It’s CHECK-MATE. Ausse American.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:16am

      so he didn’t cash the last check? Just checking

      Report Post »  
  • XXIUS
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:49pm

    I see a movie here !!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:48pm

    Horrible story. Michael Egan will go to hell, and his mother to a different place, heaven.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:59pm

      lol, that is one HECK of an assumption!

      Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:10pm

      thats what believers do, they assume.. their assumptions always kept us in the dark ages, burned innocent people at the stake, and had jews murdered. Thanks christians

      Report Post »  
    • Seede
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:15pm

      What makes you think he will go to hell and his mother to heaven? Maybe he loved his mother and couldn’t stand to see her in the ground. She might have died naturally. Then again she might have been a wicked old gal and is in hell now. We’ll never know. He might have cashed her checks and gave the money to her church. or something like that there…………..

      Report Post »  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:37pm

      Actually, there is no need to assume how to have eternal life, we are told that in no uncertain terms. You either believe or you don’t. I would not presume to assume whether either or both of these folks were born again though. Only Christ can be the judge of that. I cannot wait for you to meet Him cesium, boy are you in for a rude awakening! :-)

      Report Post »  
  • DarkFire
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:48pm

    well the next argument will be he was eating his mom, cause he was not getting enough from her SS check, and people will support it saying “ hey see we need more spending ” i love how easy it is to skew things this is great. what kind of sick fuukkkkk put his mom in the couch anyways……….. deatails at 11.

    Report Post »  
    • the hawk
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:16pm

      YOUR Thinking right! Stay in the real world………………..TEA fOREVER, MY KIDS WERE DISAPIONTED tHRER WAS NO tEA AT THE PARTY LAST WEEKEND IN WIS……………….

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:19pm

      Obviously it was a LAZYBOY!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:48pm

    The Japanese have discovered tens of thousands of cases like this.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:48pm

    That’s sick!

    Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:47pm

    That’s one way to make social security work for you instead of the other way around..

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • MidWestMom
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:46pm

    Holy Crap. That’s just sick & twisted.

    Report Post »  
  • ZaphodsPlanet
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:44pm

    Talk about gruesome ….. gives me the creeps.

    Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:43pm

    His inspiration was Norman Bates and oh yes the 1,100

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • starman70
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:43pm

    A very sad story. How many other cases of Social Security fraud are there nationwide and how much is it costing the system?

    Report Post »  
    • Ultracurmudgeon
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:52pm

      I agree, this kind of thing is probably more frequent than one could imagine. Possibly an alzheimers afflicted parent who is defrauded of their retirement by a greedy child.

      Report Post » Ultracurmudgeon  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:31pm

      The only way to eliminate the fraud in social security is to abolish it.Most welfare programs are unconstitutional and need to be abolished.SS is a ponzi scheme.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • getalong
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:32pm

      Not just SS fraud, but fraud in the tune of billions of dollars. In fact there has been a whole list of billions of dollars of taxpayer money wasted in fraud schemes that are still going on. It sits on a senator’s desk in Washington and has the potential of saving taxpayers billions of dollars. The list includes duplicate programs, outrageous salaries and project funded by taxpayers. Unfortunately, the congress and BO just haven’t been able to find the time to call hearings on these frauds and defund them. Meanwhile congress and BO get a good tan on their vacation. They could give a crap that seniors and middle class taxpayers have lost trillions of dollars from 401K’s and other investments.

      Report Post »  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:32pm

      @PROGRESSIVESLAYER. Agreed SS is a ponzi scheme but if you pay into it somewhere lol where ever the money goes it’s not welfare bro.. it’s a savings account that you never see until your of age of sorts but by no means welfare, sorry..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • Debutcher
      Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:15pm

      @food Ration— You wish! there never was any savings account, it was required to put all monies back into the system in the form of t-bills which means it was just a tax for a system never ment as a means of retirement, it was initially billed as a safety net for widows and orphans…

      Report Post »  
  • rojotx
    Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:42pm

    cold hard cash!!!

    Report Post » rojotx  
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