The Spanish police have discovered a rotting corpse that is believed to have remained on the victim’s sofa for as long as five years.
The shocking discovery was made at a property on Miquel Rossello Alemany Street in the resort town of Cala Millor on 22nd February. However, the news was first widely reported yesterday (25 February).
Cala Millor is located in the Spanish resort island of Majorca which attracts millions of British holidaymakers every year.
National Police officers were contacted by neighbours who grew concerned after going a long period of time without hearing from a neighbour who lived in their building named Bernat Masquida Barcelo, 55.
One of the concerned neighbours gave the police a spare key that was given to her by Mesquida Barcelo several years ago.
The officers knocked on the door repeatedly and after hearing no response, decided to open the door while identifying themselves as National Police officers.
After entering the property, the cops soon noticed a strong smell before finding Mesquida Barcelo’s skeletal corpse in a mummified state lying on his sofa with a blanket over him.
Officers also found that the 55-year-old man lived in filthy conditions and suspected that he had Diogenes syndrome, also known as senile squalor syndrome, which is characterised by severe self-neglect.
Forensics have yet to confirm the exact time and cause of death, however a preliminary review suggested the body could have been there for four to five years.
There have been no reports on the possible causes of Mesquida Barcelo’s death.
Several neighbours told local media that they felt sad that nobody noticed the man was missing for so long until his body was eventually discovered.
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Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
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