Boy, 2, found with decomposing mother  

[June 26, 2007]  ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A woman's decomposed body and her malnourished and dehydrated 2-year-old son were found by police investigating a foul odor in a locked apartment.

The body of Tammy Graves, 36, was found Sunday evening. Officials said she likely died within the past week, and an autopsy Monday revealed no evidence of foul play.

It may take weeks for toxicology tests to determine how Graves died, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said.

"No bullet holes, knife wounds, no ligatures, anything of that nature," Cook said. "There were no changes to the body that could not be explained."

There also was no evidence of illicit drug use so investigators were looking into the woman's medical history, Cook said.

Graves' son was placed with a relative who police did not identify.

The boy's malnourished condition was solely the result of being alone after his mother died, police said. He otherwise appeared to be well cared for.

Authorities could not immediately locate the boy's father, who did not live with Graves, District Attorney Brad Foulk said.

[Associated Press]