ST. LOUIS, MO – A Missouri man faces a barrage of charges stemming from an alleged long-term scheme in which he is accused of imprisoning his quadriplegic uncle, a U.S. Army veteran, to siphon off hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability benefits. The fraudulent activity reportedly continued for years after the uncle’s death, his body hidden in a grim, makeshift tomb.
Brian K. Ditch, 44, has been charged with multiple felonies, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft of government property, and illegal possession of a firearm, according to court documents from the Eastern District of Missouri.
The court filings allege that Ditch began exploiting his uncle’s government benefits from the Veterans Affairs and Social Security in 2008 when he became his uncle’s primary caregiver. Instead of providing essential care, Ditch allegedly confined the disabled veteran to a garage, often leaving him there for over 24 hours without access to basic necessities.
The veteran, identified in the indictment as “Veteran T.C.,” endured years of neglect, culminating in his death in 2019. Despite this, prosecutors contend Ditch continued to cash in on his uncle’s benefits by maintaining the facade of caregiving, using various manipulations and deceptions.
After the uncle’s death, authorities allege Ditch wrapped the body in a trash bag and concealed it in a backyard shed, hiding the truth about his uncle’s demise from both family and authorities. Ditch allegedly misled relatives by claiming the uncle had been relocated to a nursing home and told law enforcement that his uncle left with another caretaker.
Documents reveal police discovered the veteran’s body during a search warrant execution in March 2025. The partially frozen remains were found in a trash can inside a shed behind the victim’s residence. Prosecutors assert that Ditch collected approximately $650,000 from his uncle’s benefits after his death.
From 2008 to 2025, the uncle’s accounts reportedly had nearly $1.9 million deposited. Authorities allege Ditch used these funds not for his uncle’s care, but for personal gain.
As the case unfolds, the community grapples with the grim reality of the purported neglect and betrayal, questioning how such exploitation could continue undetected for so long. The indictment paints a disturbing picture of Ditch as a man motivated by greed, willing to imprison and ultimately desecrate his uncle’s memory for financial gain.