Man Arrested for Chilling Secret in Arizona: Social Security Fraud Plot Uncovered

Wooden gavel resting on a judge's desk.

A shocking arrest in Tempe, Arizona reveals the grim discovery of a man hiding his deceased father’s body in a freezer to commit Social Security fraud.

At a Glance

  • Joseph Hill Jr. arrested in Tempe, accused of concealing father’s body in a freezer.
  • Hill continued to cash his father’s Social Security checks posthumously.
  • Police discovered skeletal remains after a tip led them to search Hill’s yard.
  • Hill allegedly intended to bury the body in the desert but was deterred.

The Shocking Discovery

In an alarming case of fraud and deception, Joseph Hill Jr., a resident of Tempe, Arizona, stands accused of a disturbing crime. Acting on information received on October 22, the Tempe Police Department conducted a search at Hill’s residence. This led to the discovery of skeletal remains wrapped in tarps, blankets, and duct tape inside a backyard freezer, thereby bringing to light the concealment of a death that authorities believe occurred years prior.

The plot thickened as Hill initially refused police access to the freezer. Officials obtained a search warrant, which ultimately exposed the grim truth—Hill’s deceased father had been stored in the freezer for several years. The investigation revealed that Hill purchased the freezer and continued collecting Social Security checks issued in his father’s name.

Financial Motives and Attempts to Dispose the Body

Hill’s motive centered around preventing personal financial collapse. In the aftermath of his father’s death, he feared losing the family home and continued cashing Social Security checks until March 2023. He went so far as to shift the freezer’s location within the property multiple times, with intentions to eventually bury the body in the desert. His plans, however, were thwarted by people in the area, leaving the freezer untouched for the past six months without power.

The arrest of Hill, and the circumstances surrounding it, have left the local community in shock and disbelief. Neighbors expressed concerns, especially those with young children, as the reality of the situation became evident. One neighbor commented, “It’s definitely shocking, especially when you have small children asking, ‘What happened at Joe’s house?‘” This sentiment underscores the community’s struggle to come to grips with the ordeal.

Legal Implications and Precedents

Currently, Hill faces charges of concealing a body and failing to report a death. Authorities are investigating the potential of additional charges, as Hill remains detained in Maricopa County Jail under a $25,000 cash bail. The case is reminiscent of a similar incident in Aurora, Oregon, where Edward Conley Fitchett received a seven-year prison sentence for hiding and concealing his father’s death to access Social Security funds.

Such deceitful financial schemes highlight the lengths to which individuals may go to sustain themselves at the cost of legal and moral boundaries. As judicial processes unfold, both communities seek to comprehend the motives behind these grim actions and ensure that justice is served.

Sources:

  1. Twisted son left dad’s corpse in backyard freezer for years — so he could keep cashing his Social Security checks
  2. Oregon Man Stuffed Father’s Dead Body in Freezer and Spent Social Security Checks, Sentenced to 7 Years