During unprecedented times where everyone is required to stay home, there may be family plights and tragedies that remain unseen until someone sheds light upon them.
These communities rely on people outside of their household to get the help they need — as seen in the recent case of a 60-year-old woman who passed away for days before her body was found.
The Yishun resident had stayed in a flat with her daughter, likely to be in her 30s. Sadly, the daughter didn’t know how to report to the police, and didn’t dare to step out of her house.
She ended up staying with her mum’s body for about 5 days till it started decomposing.
Lianhe Zaobao reported the shocking find on Friday (8 May), and we’ve summarised the case below.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, both mother and daughter stayed at Block 704 Yishun Ave 5. Prior to her demise, the 60-year-old had worked in a coffee shop as a staff who collected used dishes.
However, she had reportedly stopped working before ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures kicked in.
Zaobao had interviewed one of their neighbours – a man called Mr Huang – who pointed out that he started noticing a stench wafting from the mother-daughter’s unit for the last 2 days.
It was only on 7 May that the smell became unbearable. Figuring something might be wrong, he called the police right away.
Police officers entered the flat, and made the heartbreaking discovery of the 60-year-old’s decomposing body. She was still accompanied by her daughter, who seemed like she did not know her mother had passed away.
Reports stated that the deceased was lying in the living room near the entrance. Judging from the “blackened” state of the woman’s head and neck, authorities put her time of death at around 5 days ago.
Mr Huang revealed that the mother and daughter had lived in the flat for 30 years. He told Lianhe Zaobao,
The daughter has low IQ. She’ll hug her doll and bring it around. She should be in her 30s, but her behaviour is still like a young girl.
Mr Huang also said,
When the police told her that her mother has passed away, she didn’t respond. I’m not sure if she truly understands what happened.
Neighbours didn’t know much about the woman’s husband, except for the fact that he wasn’t living together with them.
Police received the neighbour’s report at around 1.50pm on Thursday (7 May). They have since classified the incident as unnatural death. Investigations are ongoing.
6 relatives have come to identify and claim the woman’s body. Once this is over, hopefully they can give her a final send-off with proper funeral rites, and provide care for the daughter.
The daughter may or may not understand the gravity of the situation, but at the end of the day, she is simply a girl who just lost her mother.
MS News extends our condolences to the daughter and the deceased’s family.
Featured image adapted from Google Maps.
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