Wife hid husband’s remains in freezer for 7 years to collect benefits, police say

ANCHORAGE, Alaska. (KTUU/Gray News) - A woman in Alaska hid her late husband’s remains in a freezer for years in order to collect benefits, according to authorities.

Juneau police found the remains of Ross Pasquan inside a chest freezer on July 19. Police said he would have been 74 years old at the time of the discovery of his remains.

A family member had been cleaning out the property following the death of Pasquan’s wife, Sheryl Ann McDonald-Pasquan, who died on July 14, 2025, from natural causes.

Inside a storage shed, a family member discovered a locked freezer.

Police said the person found the key, opened the freezer and found a tarp-wrapped object that appeared to contain human remains. They closed the freezer and went directly to Juneau police.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Pasquan died of natural causes related to severe cardiovascular disease. Investigators believe Pasquan’s remains were placed in the freezer sometime between 2018 and 2025.

The investigation found that McDonald-Pasquan concealed his death and continued applying for and receiving benefits in his name until her death. Those benefits included Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend checks, Social Security benefits and retirement benefits.

Investigators also learned that a retirement benefit provider had not been notified of his death and was still depositing monthly payments into Pasquan’s account up until July 2026.

Investigators found no evidence that another person caused Pasquan’s death or helped McDonald-Pasquan in concealing his remains or collecting his benefits.

Witness interviews indicated that Pasquan had a history of significant health problems and that McDonald-Pasquan served as his primary caregiver. Witnesses said she explained his absence by telling them he had been moved to a care facility outside Juneau.

The investigation is now closed due to McDonald-Pasquan’s death.