Harris Co. Crime: Decomposed body found inside home, family member living with the remains 'for months'
Decomposed body found inside home, family member living with the remains ‘for months’
According to deputies of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, a man living in the home called police around 5 p.m. Monday about a dead person inside the home. Authorities believe the man who called is related to the corpse and could have been living with the remains for years.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - Authorities in North Harris County are investigating a body, believed to be a woman, found dead inside a home along the 20400 block of Long Cypress Drive Monday evening. Investigators describe the body as a skeleton, believing it had been inside the home for a long time.
"Neighbors say they’ve been in contact with the male a few times over the last days and weeks, but the female, no," said Harris County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland.
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According to deputies of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, a man living in the home called police around 5 p.m. Monday about a dead person inside the home. Authorities believe the man who called is related to the corpse and could have been living with the remains for years.
"It’s a bit unusual, but we’ve had those cases before where people have been inside, or reside in homes, maybe elderly, and they don’t have anyone to care for them," said Gilliland. "Or, they have someone in the home that [may be] special needs or something along those lines. Maybe there is no one to take care of that person after [the other] person is deceased."
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Law enforcement and homicide investigators were at the home Monday. Authorities are trying to determine how long ago the woman died and how.
The man who called the authorities has been taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. After the evaluation, investigators will be able to speak with him and find out more information. Deputies couldn’t say Monday if the death seemed suspicious in nature.
"I couldn’t give you a timeline, but it’s been years since I’ve seen her," said Jenifer Jones, a neighbor.
Like other neighbors, Jones describes the home where the body was located as quiet. According to Jones, she hasn’t seen the elderly woman who lived there in years. Occasionally, she would see a man walking in and out of the house.
"We thought maybe she wasn’t here anymore," said Jones. "Maybe she had already passed away. Nobody really thought about it because we didn’t see her. Nothing happens at that house. Nobody goes there, nobody comes out. That’s just how it’s always been."