Philly Woman Stole Dead Person's Social Security Benefits: Feds

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia woman is accused of concealing the death of an intellectually disabled woman she then stole the Social Security benefits of, all while the deceased woman was buried beneath concrete in the basement of a Philadelphia home.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Holly Sadowski, 37, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged by indictment on charges of Social Security fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, for concealing the death of a woman, referred to as E.W., to steal her Social Security Administration disability benefits totaling roughly $99,447.90.

Authorities said the deceased woman’s remains were found buried beneath about six to eight feet of concrete in the basement of her Philadelphia home.

According to the indictment, the last time the woman was seen alive was on or about Dec. 12, 2012.

During her lifetime, the woman received Disability Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration due to an intellectual disorder.

Authorities said a DNA analysis of the human remains recovered from the concrete basement concluded they were those of the woman.

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office and a forensic anthropologist examined the remains and concluded that the cause of death was blunt trauma to the head and neck and the manner of death was homicide. A forensic anthropologist estimated that the woman died at least four years and up to 10 years prior to the recovery of her remains.

Sadowski was indicted for accessing the deceased woman’s bank account and stealing her Social Security benefits for her own personal use, authorities said.

She is also charged with using the woman's name, date of birth, and Social Security number to continue to access her bank account containing the Social Security benefit funds.

Sadowski is charged with fraudulently obtaining and converting to her own use approximately $99,447.90 in benefits payments intended for the woman.

If convicted, Sadowski faces a maximum possible sentence of 107 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1,750,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment.