A tragic discovery was made on June 26 when the decomposing body of an 80-year-old woman was found in her home at Block 245 Jurong East Street 24. The elderly woman’s death had gone undetected for several days, with her husband hospitalized and neighbors unaware of her passing.
Residents of the block had noticed a foul smell as early as June 23, but the source of the odor was unknown. Despite reporting the smell to the town council on June 24 and 25, the authorities were unable to determine its origin. The smell was so potent that it lingered in the corridor outside the woman’s flat even a day after her body was discovered.
According to Shin Min Daily News, A neighbor, surnamed Chen, who lived on the floor above the woman, reported that he and his family had noticed the smell coming from their bedroom window. They initially suspected that the smell might be coming from another unit on their floor or from a decomposing animal nearby. It wasn’t until they saw police officers conducting investigations on June 26 that they realized the smell was coming from the deceased woman’s flat.
Another neighbor, Abraham, revealed that the deceased woman had been living with her elderly husband, who was hospitalized at the time of her death. The husband, who worked as a cleaner, would sometimes go out alone, while the woman, who appeared to suffer from dementia, rarely left the flat.
The police were alerted to the case of unnatural death on June 26 and found the 80-year-old woman lying motionless in her flat. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and preliminary investigations do not suspect foul play. The police investigation is ongoing.
The incident highlights the importance of checking in on elderly neighbors, especially those who live alone or have limited mobility. It also underscores the need for authorities to respond promptly to reports of unusual odors or other signs of distress in residential areas.