Do Not Disturb

From the Telegraph, this is truly incredible:

'Skeleton woman' dead in front of TV for years

"A woman's skeleton was discovered in her flat three years after she is believed to have died, it emerged today. Joyce Vincent was surrounded by Christmas presents and the television and heating in her bedsit were still on."

Lemme get this straight. A DOA decomposing for three years in an apartment. They should have been able to smell it in Dusseldorf. She must have hung a "Do Not Disturb or Breathe" sign on the front door.

"The 40-year-old's body was so decomposed that the only way to identify her was to compare dental records with a holiday photograph."

When you think about it, that's not so bad. Helen Thomas looks like she's been dead for at least eighteen months.

"Police believe she probably died of natural causes in early 2003, and was only found in January this year when housing association officials broke into the bedsit in Wood Green, North East London."

Sounds like the housing authority officials in London operate on the same level of competence as child protective workers here in NY.

"They were hoping to recover the thousands of pounds of rent arrears that had piled up since her death."

Can she pay you in flies and maggots?

Details of the case emerged during an inquest at Hornsey Coroner's Court, which was attended by relatives including Ms Vincent's sisters.

No need for comment here.

"A spokesman for the coroner said today that Ms Vincent had apparently been a placed in the women's refuge accommodation as a victim of domestic violence."

"Dr Simon Poole, a pathologist, told the inquest he had been unable to establish the cause of death because the remains were "largely skeletal", but police do not regard the circumstances as suspicious."

"The coroner recorded an open verdict."

Here's the rub. Knock off your old lady who's hiding in a woman's shelter and skate. What if she died from injuries caused by the domestic violence? This is so bad it almost sounds like a hoax. But it is a great way to reduce your murder statistics (as I've mentioned in a previous post - 03/29/06 Fun With Numbers Part II).