A Wisconsin woman is facing charges for allegedly hiding the body of her mother so she could continue to collect Social Security checks and other financial benefits.
Paula Ann Bergold, 59, appeared in court Monday in Marinette County, where she was charged with hiding a corpse, failure to report a death and obstructing an officer, according to WBAY-TV.
Police discovered the body of Ruby Bergold, 89, earlier this month when officers arrived to conduct a welfare check on the elderly woman.
A neighbor had called police, reporting they had not seen the elder Bergold since May, WBAY reported.
When officers arrived at the home, they noticed a bad odor and packets of mothballs around the residence in the doorways and near a car in the driveway, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
Paula Bergold showed up at the home and allowed officers inside, at first insisting her mother was not at home.
After searching the home, police discovered a chair covered in Borax, boxes of ammonia and bleach and an unopened bag of barn lime, the news station reported.
Bergold, who said she did not kill her mother, allegedly admitted to police that she had found Ruby Bergold’s body and placed it in a container in the basement in order to continue collecting her financial benefits.
Paula Bergold was jailed on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled for her next court appearance on Oct. 7.
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