Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie tells of Geelong shocking corpse find

A detective has told of the “horrific” discovery of a man’s skeletal remains inside a Geelong home that left officers shaken.

A top cop has told of the “horrific” discovery of a man’s skeletal remains inside a Geelong home that left officers shaken.

Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie said police were “thoroughly” investigating the death of the elderly man on behalf of the coroner.

The remains may have been left to rot undiscovered for possibly five years in a Newtown commission unit.

Mr Guthrie said visibly shaken members required extra support after finding what was left of the corpse in among garbage in December 2022.

A police officer in biohazard equipment prepares to enter the property. Photo: Emily Drought.

The undignified manner of his demise has shocked many and raised serious questions about glaring cracks in the public housing system.

The man’s sister was allegedly living alongside his dead body the entire time, right under the nose of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, who own the property.

She was initially arrested but released without charge over his death.

“It was pretty shocking for the members that attended,” Mr Guthrie said.

“The smell, the condition, then having to remove the body with the assistance of the undertakers, it was quite horrific for them, really horrific.

“They got extra local support here but it was certainly a horrible experience.”

News Corp exposed the filthy living conditions inside the unit this week, which included

floor-to-ceiling rubbish, human excrement and dead rats.

Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie. Picture: Alan Barber

Black mould was also visible on the back of the blinds, that were always drawn.

Several concerns about the condition of the unit and its tenants were raised with the DFFH, the

department of health, Geelong housing office and the City of Greater Geelong over a number of years.

It was only when a divisional police van conducted a welfare check that the grisly find inside was uncovered.

“We have the Addy sitting in the kitchen area in the office this morning and everyone is commenting on this story, it has brought up some terrible memories for our members,” Mr Guthrie said.

Sladen Park, Newtown, close to the Russell Street house of horror. Picture: Alan Barber

“It’s obvious this kind of thing should not happen.”

The apparent neglect has angered many residents living in the central Geelong suburb, regarded as one of the most expensive in the city with a median house price over $1.1m.

The unit, on Russell St, is on the same leafy strip as the Chilwell Library, a children’s playground and a former Maternal Child and Heath Centre.

A Kindergarten almost backs onto the commission housing complex on the adjacent Bond St.

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Originally published as Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie tells of Geelong shocking corpse find