The mummified body of a woman whose corpse is believed
by authorities to have been left in her apartment for 15 years was
discovered in the Spanish capital, Madrid, officials said on Friday.
The woman's niece had informed police, they added, who then called in
firefighters and public officials to break down the apartment door,
where the corpse was found on Tuesday in the apartment's bathroom.
According to police, the woman named Isabel had died about 15 years
ago at age 78. The Europa Press news agency cited neighbours who said
they had last seen the retired woman alive in September 2004.
They had reportedly called police multiple times over the years due
to the smell coming out of the apartment, but they never responded.
The woman had lived alone in the apartment since her husband's death,
according to media reports. She did not have any children.
An autopsy had shown that no third party was responsible for her
death, police said, and therefore they did not open an investigation.
The Madrid apartment block where the body was found. Photo courtesy: The Local