Israel couple bury Holocaust survivor to continue benefits fraud

In northern Israel, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor named Maina Tolstikov was secretly buried in her daughter's backyard in Carmiel after her death in April 2024, so her daughter and the daughter's partner could continue collecting her monthly reparations and social security benefits totaling over NIS 18,000 (around $5,400). The case came to light when another daughter, living in central Israel, reported her missing and noticed conflicting stories about her health while authorities found that she was still officially listed as alive. Police investigations revealed that the body had been kept temporarily in a freezer before being buried in a three-meter deep pit on the property. The daughter and her partner gave contradictory accounts of the burial location; the partner later committed suicide in custody upon realizing police had uncovered the truth. The daughter faces multiple charges including fraud, obstruction of justice, and failure to report the death, while the body was eventually buried with honors a year and a half after her passing. The investigation highlighted concerns over the couple's living conditions and the misuse of Holocaust survivor benefits.