Geelong’s House of Horror: Coroner considers inquest into Robert Natoli’s death

An coronial inquest is being considered into the shocking death of an elderly man found rotting in a Geelong apartment for up to five years.

An inquest is being considered into the shocking death of an elderly man found rotting in a Geelong apartment for up to five years.

A Victorian coroner is deciding whether to bring witnesses before a court to give evidence into the circumstances that led to the demise and alleged neglect of Robert Rudolph Natoli in a Newtown commission unit.

His body was undiscovered for possibly several years while his sister slept under the same roof, despite his rent still being paid by State Trustees and multiple welfare checks by the state housing department failing to notice.

The Russell St house has been empty ever since the incident. Picture: Alan Barber

Several visits by Victoria Police also missed the horrendous living conditions inside the house that included his cadaver, dead animals, rubbish and black mould growing on blinds.

A spokeswoman from the Coroners Court said Mr Natoli’s case was still being probed and the coroner is yet to confirm if an inquest will be held as part of the investigation.

It’s believed the failings of multiple government agencies and broader issues of public health and safety would form the catalyst of any court proceeding.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, no further comment can be made,” she said.

It has been more than a year after the forensic examination was launched into Mr Natoli’s grim end, with no hearing date set.
It’s believed his remains are still with the court.

It can also be revealed police attempted to serve several warrants on the woman living at the Russell St address in 2022, and attended the property on several occasions following complaints about her behaviour.

She was initially arrested when officers broke through her window and found her brother’s skeletal remains on December 28, 2022.

She was taken away in handcuffs but was later released without charge over his death.

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Originally published as Geelong’s House of Horror: Coroner considers inquest into Robert Natoli’s death