PHILADELPHIA, July 3 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia pizza delivery driver faces charges of abuse of a corpse for allegedly storing his mother's body in a freezer for six months.
Police sources told WCAU-TV that William Carrasquillo was expected to surrender Thursday. The body of Andrea Carrasquillo, 83, was found Tuesday in a small freezer in the home she shared with her son in the Feltonville neighborhood.
Carrasquillo could face additional charges. A co-worker told WCAU he believed his motive for hiding his mother's body was to cash her Social Security checks. Jared Santiago said Carrasquillo had financial problems because of expenses from caring for his mother.
"He realized she died and there was an opportunity to get away with something and take advantage of it," Santiago said.
Police went to the home Tuesday after getting a telephone tip that Andrea Carrasquillo had been dead since January and that the body was in the freezer. Investigators said there were no signs of violence on the body, although an autopsy was delayed because the corpse had to be allowed to thaw.
The body was naked and doubled over.
Santiago said Carrasquillo appears to be remorseful. He said he got a text Sunday, a day after Carrasquillo last worked.
"He said he loved his mother and thanked me for letting him work here for 20 years," Santiago said. "He said to tell all his friends he was sorry."
