Body of woman, 40, lay unmissed in flat for more than two years

[kay1864]

A woman who died alone in her flat in north London lay unmissed by anyone for more than two years while her television set blared and post mounted up, it emerged yesterday.

Carol Vincent's body was discovered in her tiny studio flat in Wood Green, with a bag of shopping by her side and Christmas presents lying under the tree.

An inquest on Monday was told the 40-year-old's body had to be formally identified by comparing her teeth with dental records and a photograph of her smiling. She was only discovered in January this year when rent arrears became so high an officer from the local housing association took a locksmith to force entry and repossess the flat.

A policeman who was called to the scene told the inquest at Hornsey coroner's court: "I noticed a strong smell and due to my experience as a police officer I believed this to come from a body."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329457684-103690,00.html

(read on...they re-rented the flat--and didn't tell the new tenants about her!)

[NewWaveChick1981]

1. That's so sad.

And it's awful that no one even bothered to check on her---not her family, friends, neighbors, or anyone. IMO, it should trigger questions if the Post Office/mail carrier notices mail piling up for no apparent reason.

About five years ago, there was an elderly woman in the city where I live who died in her home, and no one bothered to check on her for almost a year. She was reclusive, but she had a little dog that she walked every day. Neighbors who were interviewed later said that they stopped seeing her out with the dog, and that they could hear the dog barking furiously for about a week and a half, then the barking stopped. They didn't see her any more, and the mail carrier just kept putting mail in her box (and on her porch, and on the steps, etc.). Utilities were cut off for nonpayment, and it wasn't until a tax assessor stopped by her home to do a property reevaluation that she was found. The dog was found dead next to her, and he apparently starved to death. A law was passed not long after that to make it mandatory for service providers to check on elderly people if things are amiss. If not, they are heavily fined. Nothing like this has happened in this area since then.

[radwriter0555]

2. That happened in West Hollywood sort of. About 10 years ago an old woman's

house was broken into. She was forced into the closet and locked in while the robber looted.

She was found dead 2 weeks later, still in the closet.

Her son lived in Beverly Hills, less than a mile away.

[Dangerously Amused]

3. I have an uneasy feeling that story will be mine someday.

Well, at least I'll make the news.

[eyepaddle]

5. Yeah, there's times I get that feeling too

I'm frequently single, and I've got buddies--but they sure don't have a history of being, er, dependable.

[eyepaddle]

4. Wow, that's tragic

More than two years and NOBODY came to check.

RIP Ms Vincent.

[leftofthedial]

6. which is more sad?

being dead and not missed for 2 years?

or being alive and missed for 2 years?

[Elidor]

7. Eleanor Rigby

So sad. :(

[Trigger Hippie]

8. That's gonna be me some day....

:scared:

[eyepaddle]

9. Maybe we could start a Lounge "come look for me if I disappear for

more than a year" type of organization.

It might prove useful.

Hey, as a follow-up, how's you fake cooking co-worker doing these days? :hi: