Israeli Woman Arrested for Allegedly Burying Mother to Claim Benefits

An Israeli woman has been arrested after allegedly burying her mother, a Holocaust survivor, in the back garden to continue receiving her social security benefits. The mother, Maina Tolstikov, who was in her 90s, reportedly received over £3,500 each month from the state in the form of Holocaust reparations and standard social benefits. Her daughter, Sharon Kantor, is accused of failing to report her mother’s death and continuing to claim the funds in her place.

In September 2024, concerns were raised when Tolstikov’s other daughter, whose identity has not been disclosed, contacted the police. She reportedly grew suspicious of conflicting accounts regarding their mother’s health provided by Kantor. Officers visited Tolstikov’s apartment in Karmiel, but received no response when they knocked on the door.

According to Chief Inspector Alon Reuveni, head of the Galilee District’s Special Crime Unit, the apartment was in a concerning state. He described it as “filled with cobwebs” and “the windows sealed shut with tape,” creating a strange atmosphere.

Following the police inquiry, Kantor and her partner were arrested and questioned separately. During the interviews, it was revealed that Tolstikov had died in April 2024. While Kantor claimed her mother had been buried in Haifa, her partner stated that he had buried her in a kibbutz located in northern Israel. He refused to disclose the exact location and tragically took his own life shortly after the questioning.

The investigation took a significant turn when a contractor who had previously worked on Tolstikov’s home provided a tip-off. This led police to search the garden, where they discovered her body buried at a depth of three meters. Reuveni stated, “We began digging in that spot. At a depth of three meters, the operator noticed a piece of clothing and stopped immediately. We went down and found… a body – it was her.” It was later revealed that for two days following her death, Kantor and her partner had stored Tolstikov’s body in an old ice cream freezer in the yard. They failed to report her death and continued to withdraw funds for over a year and a half.

Reuveni expressed the emotional impact of the case, stating, “In 26 years of service, I’ve seen terrible cases, but this is one of the hardest – a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor buried in her own yard by her family.”

Kantor remains under investigation on multiple charges, including aggravated fraud, obstruction of justice, failure to report a death, and breach of legal duty. Authorities are currently awaiting the results of Tolstikov’s autopsy to determine the cause of her death.

As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the disturbing details of this case, which has highlighted the complexities of familial relationships and the dire consequences of financial desperation.