In a shocking discovery, an elderly woman and her middle-aged son were found in a mummified condition in a Brooklyn apartment on Wednesday afternoon. The gruesome find was made after building residents reported a foul smell that had been lingering for several days, according to local law enforcement and other sources. The victims, an 80-year-old woman and her 52-year-old son, were discovered by police officers who had been called to the building at the crossroads of Jay Street and Tillary Street in Downtown Brooklyn for a wellness check just before 1 p.m., as stated by the New York Police Department.
The identities of the deceased have not been released. They were found unresponsive and lying face-up, their bodies showing signs of mummification, according to sources. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel were called to the scene and pronounced them dead, as confirmed by authorities.
The bodies were removed from the apartment by 7:35 p.m., as witnessed by local media. A police officer leaving the building described the smell coming from the apartment as “nasty,” noting that it was noticeable as soon as one stepped off the elevator.
The son, who lived nearby but not with his mother, was known to visit her regularly, according to the building’s doorman, who wished to remain anonymous. The doorman mentioned that he had not seen the son for about two to three weeks. A neighbor living across the hall from the apartment where the bodies were found noted that the smell of decomposition had been noticeable “for days.”
The neighbor, who also wished to remain anonymous, remembered that the odor would intensify intermittently, leading maintenance staff to use air fresheners. Initially, the neighbor thought the smell was coming from the trash outside, but it progressively worsened.
The cause of death for the mother and son will be determined by the city medical examiner, as stated by the police. Authorities have noted that there were no visible signs of trauma on the bodies, and no criminal activity is suspected at this time.