Police: Florida woman hid mother’s body in freezer and collected disability benefits

By Matt Papaycik

SEBASTIAN, Fla. (WPTV) – A Florida woman is under arrest after police say she stuffed her dead mother’s body into a freezer because she wanted to continue receiving disability benefits from his mother.

Officers found the body of Marie Hoskins, 93, on April 28 inside a chest freezer in her garage at her home in the 100 block of Paddock Street.

Sebastian police said Friday that Hoskins’ daughter, Michele Hoskins, 64, was arrested Thursday for tampering with or destroying evidence and failing to report her mother’s death.

According to detectives, Hoskins admitted to finding his mother dead in her bedroom in April and then buying a freezer to hide her mother’s body because she feared she could no longer receive her mother’s disability benefits.

The inquest found that Marie Hoskins died of natural causes and her body was not put in the freezer for two weeks.

Police found a very dirty bed mattress hidden among thick brush and palm branches in the backyard.

According to the Sebastian Police Department, officers attended the family’s home on April 28 after a concerned neighbor called 911 and said she had not seen Marie Hoskins in a while.

Officers were unable to reach anyone inside the home, so out of concern for Hoskins’ well-being, they obtained a key from a family member and entered the home.

Inside, police said they found Michele Hoskins, who told officers she had not seen her mother in some time. A search of the property eventually uncovered the body of Marie Hoskins inside a freezer in the garage.

“It’s scary to think that someone could do this,” said neighbor Katrina Houde. “I have kids playing in my front yard who were, like, a few feet away from a garage that she kept her mom in for so long. So it’s sad that someone is willing to do this.

Michele Hoskins was taken to Indian River County Jail at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday. She is being held on $10,000 bond.

This story was originally published on July 8 by WPTV in West Palm Beach, an EW Scripps company.