How does one go about reporting suspected fraud due to not reporting a death?

[said99]

I learned about a month ago from a cousin that my brother's wife had called him and said that my brother had died in his sleep at his home. My brother and I had not been close for many years because his wife and I did not get along, so it didn't surprise me that she didn't call me. However, I did want to send flowers for his funeral. I checked online and there were no notices of my brother's death. I called all of the funeral homes in the town close to where he lives and even other towns. No one had any record of him. It's been a month now and the state death records don't show any record of his death, nor are there any other notices of his death. Many years ago, my brother had a bad accident and had been on disability (both state and federal) due to that. In addition, the company that was responsible for his accident had to pay him hefty payments each month for his care. His wife was his caregiver and he lived at home. Since his death hasn't been recorded, even though many deaths after his have been recorded by the state, I'm beginning to suspect that my sister-in-law did not report his death to the authorities so she can continue to receive his disability and other checks. That would be typical of her (and the reason why she and I don't get along). Frankly, I don't care about what she does because I figure her actions will catch up to her eventually, but it bothers me to think that my brother hasn't had a proper burial. With the settlement from the accident, they had bought a ranch, so it would be easy enough for her to just dig a hole in the backyard and put his body into it without anyone knowing about it. They live in a state that is very far away from the rest of the family so no one would have gone to the funeral, even if there had been one. Like I said, I'm just dismayed that my brother may not have been buried properly due to his wife's greed. I don't know that she did just bury him and not report it, but what other explanation could there be?

[jordi]

Speak with the Clerk of the Court, tax office or the Sheriff Duty Officer in the town or Country he lived in. That is where any record would be...it can sometimes takes a while for records to filter up and be recorded from a small town to the state, but the local tax rolls should be accurate and up to date.

[breasal]

Don't accuse. First call the county government center where he lived and ask if the death was reported.

[hyun-su]

Call the cops. They should be involved in checking your suspicions.

[chansomps]

Why then would she call the cousin? Do you not have other family members you can call? He would show up on the SSDI but it takes time. The funeral homes may have been told to tell you nothing, sadly my husbands family did that when his sister died.

I would find it pretty surprising that she buried him on the property.

It is a shame you and your brother didn't reconnect.