Police suspect person lived with dead skeleton on couch

[April 30, 2008]  DALLAS (AP) -- The skeletal remains of a 93-year-old woman may have remained on a couch in her living room for months while other people continued living in the house, authorities said.

Neighbors reported seeing cars come and go from the home as recently as this week before police, doing a welfare check at the request of a neighbor, found a body inside Monday.

"What is a little bizarre is it appears that someone was living there with her for some time," Dallas police Sgt. Gene Reyes told The Dallas Morning News.

The remains of a dog also were found in another room. Investigators suspect the human remains belong to the elderly woman who lived there, but DNA testing may be needed to confirm the identity.

Dallas police spokeswoman Janice Crowther said there were no obvious signs of trauma on the skeleton.

Months have passed since anyone apparently last saw the elderly woman. Electricity was still on at the home and the lawn and exterior were well-kept, but police described the interior as messy.

A neighbor concerned about the woman called police to the one-story, white brick home where investigators found the covered remains on a couch.

[Associated Press]

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