In a case that has sent shockwaves through Australia, a woman lived with her brother’s dead body for up to five years in a rat-infested house in one of Victoria’s most affluent suburbs.
Multiple complaints were made about the mentally unwell woman, a known hoarder who kept piles of rubbish in and around her commission unit.
Her brother went missing a number of years ago but when the woman was arrested on an unrelated matters, his bloody skeleton was removed from the stinking home.
As well as a skeleton, officers found floor-to-ceiling rubbish, a rats, dead possums and human feces.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police told news.com.au that police attended an address in Newtown in Geelong, in regional Victoria, for a welfare check on a male resident on December 28, 2022.
“Officers attended the Russell Street property about 6pm and located the male deceased inside,” the spokesperson said.
Forensic specialists in biohazard suits retrieved what was left of the man on December 29, 2022.
Newtown is considered one of the most affluent neighbourhood’s in Geelong.
The average house price currently sits at an eye-watering $1.1 million.
Residents on Newtown’s Russell street described the unit as a “house of horrors” according to the Geelong Advertiser.
Neighbour Nicole Stratton said a build-up of “utter filth” had masked the stench of the decaying corpse.
“There was always a smell but we just thought it was the piles of rubbish,” the 31-year-old told the publication.
“The blinds were always down and you could see the mold on the back of them.
“The carport was constantly filled with trash.
“There were rats everywhere, it was honestly disgusting.”’
Ms Stratton said numerous residents consistently complained to Geelong Council and Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) about the mess.
“We complained to housing about the mess, and they would do checks but she would never open the door for them,” she said.
Ms Stratton said the situation has been “traumatic” for residents.
“My eldest still won’t go outside at night, she is scared,” she said.
Another resident on the street who did not want to be named, said the lack of action was “crazy”.
“I can safely say there was no routine inspection or welfare check on that individual for at least a year and possibly more,” he said.
“You have residents raising all these concerns and it falls on deaf ears, you start thinking what the f–k.
“It is crazy.”
Geelong businesswoman Linda Jenkins said “red flags” were raised to government bodies about the alleged bizarre behavior of the woman.
A City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) spokesperson confirmed to the Geeolong Advertiser that complaints were made about the condition of the unit prior to the discovery of the man’s body.
It’s believed a council staff member attempted to engage with the tenant on one occasion before contacting DFFH.
Health concerns were also raised with the city by several concerned Russell St residents.
“The property owner (DFFH) was contacted and they stated that appropriate action would be taken,” the CoGG spokesman said.
DFFH spokesman said welfare checks had been made “since 2021” after growing concerns over a lack of contact, lack of access and the poor state of the property.
“This is a tragic incident,” the spokesman said.
The woman who lived alongside the body has not been charged over the death.
The man’s cause of death has not been made public and the coroner is investigating.
The property has remained vacant for over a year and is expected to be upgraded later this year.
