By Jeremy Sollars
A WARWICK woman lay dead in her home for up to six weeks before her body was discovered, police have confirmed.
The body of the 63-year-old was found by officers in her Percy Street residence around 1.30 on Tuesday 11 October, in what they described as “an advanced state of decomposition”.
Police were called to the address by a neighbour, who is still reeling from what she has described as an “absolute tragedy” and is asking, “how does it come to this?”
A police spokesman said it was understood the woman had seen a doctor on August 19 and it appeared she had passed away the following day.
An autopsy is due to be carried out and police are attempting to locate relatives.
The woman’s body was found fully clothed in the kitchen of the property, which police said was “well secured, neat and tidy and in good order, with no signs of break or entry”.
The spokesman said when police attended the residence on Tuesday they brought in a locksmith to gain entry to the home.
The neighbour who called the police, who has asked not to be identified, told the Free Times the woman was highly reclusive and lived by herself in her heavily-secured property and had no known relatives in Warwick.
The neighbour said she had intermittent contact with the 63-year-old and been trying to knock on the door and phone the woman for weeks.
She also said she had contacted the Warwick Police around three weeks ago and was told nothing could be done “as they said they couldn’t just break into someone’s house”.
“It’s absolutely tragic, horrible, and I am asking myself if I could have done more,” the neighbour said.
“My husband was probably the last person to see her alive.
“She lived like a recluse and we weren’t always sure of her coming and going, she did occasionally go away for periods.
“In the first couple of weeks when we hadn’t seen her we just assumed she was out of town, but then it seemed very out of character.
“We were knocking on the door and calling out to her and calling her on the phone, but the place was done up like Fort Knox.
“I called the police about three weeks ago and they said they had no grounds to enter the property, which is disappointing.
“I really felt they should have acted – there was nothing they could have done for her obviously but to let it come to this, it’s just awful.
“When the bins didn’t go out and the mail started pouring out of the mailbox we knew something definitely wasn’t right.
“I understand she was involved with one of the local churches – I mean you’d think someone from there would’ve been checking on her.”
The neighbour said the woman was “very frail and petite, you’d never have said she looked well”.
“All I can think is that she’s collapsed and hasn’t been able to get up, and she’s starved to death and dehydrated,” she said.
“I just hope whatever happened it was quick but to think that she could have suffered in that way.
“I think the message from this is that we all have to look after each other better, care for each other.
“We need to be always checking on our elderly neighbours, even if they do shut themselves away.
“No-one should have to be left to be found like this.”
It is understood the woman had lived in the Percy Street residence all her life.
The Free Times is seeking further comment from the Warwick Police about their handling of the matter.
