Newtown woman lived with dead brother’s body for years in DFFH ‘House of Horrors’
A woman living in an affluent suburb was sleeping alongside her brother’s dead body for at least two years, possibly even five years, it can be revealed. WATCH THE VIDEO
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A woman living in one of Geelong’s most affluent suburbs was sleeping alongside her brother’s dead body for potentially two years, with some reports claiming it was up to five years.
Shocked neighbours have lifted the lid on the ghoulish “house of horrors” more than a year after the man’s remains were found just 250m from cosmopolitan Pakington St.
Victoria Police believe it’s possible the woman was living with the corpse inside her commission unit for several years before officers made the grim find.
Fresh details of the discovery have sickened and angered residents on Newtown’s Russell St, with years of alleged complaints to multiple government departments allegedly falling on deaf ears.
News Corp can now reveal the jaw-dropping living conditions inside the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing flat, including floor-to-ceiling rubbish, rats, dead possums, human faeces and “a bloody skeleton”.
Some claim they had not seen the deceased man on the leafy Geelong strip, within walking distance to GMHBA Stadium, since 2018.
“How can someone be living with a dead body next door for five years and not a single person know about it,” neighbour Nicole Stratton said.
“They’ve tried to sweep this under the rug.
“We have been living next to a house of horrors.”
Forensic specialists in biohazard suits retrieved what was left of the man on December 29, 2022 after the woman was arrested on unrelated matters.
Ms Stratton, also a DFFH tenant, believed a build-up of “utter filth” had masked the stench of the decaying corpse.
“There was always a smell but we just thought it was the piles of rubbish,” the 31-year-old said.
“The blinds were always down and you could see the mould on the back of them.
“The carport was constantly filled with trash.
“There were rats everywhere, it was honestly disgusting.”
The mother-of-two said she was horrified to learn of what lay behind the curtains when police made the dramatic arrest.
“I witnessed it all,” she said.
“It was a bloody skeleton they removed, not a body.
“The smell got worse once they removed it and cleaned the house out, and I ended up having flies everywhere inside.
“It has been traumatic, my eldest still won’t go outside at night, she is scared.”
The woman, believed to be in her 70s, was released without charge last year in relation to the man’s death, with the coroner still investigating the exact circumstances of his demise.
Attempted inspections of the two-bedroom flat by DFFH failed to uncover the body, raising questions about considerable cracks in the public housing system.
“We complained to housing about the mess, and they would do checks but she would never open the door for them,” Ms Stratton said.
“I have been living here for about six years and they have come around a few times. I spotted her brother probably two or three times in the first year, and then nothing.”
News Corp understands the deceased was the signature tenant of the property, with his rent being paid by a guardian as his corpse rotted away in a bedroom.
Police confirmed they initially arrived at the address to conduct a welfare check on the male resident.
The unit has remained vacant for more than a year, with cyclone fencing still surrounding it.
One Russell St homeowner said the place “should be demolished.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said she noticed “dead possums” around the home and her trash “would sometimes disappear”.
“She would move people’s bins and dump rubbish,” she said.
“It stunk, but no one expects to find what they did after all those years.
“Imagine having dinner every night with a rotten corpse.”
Ms Stratton said police used a crowbar from her house to break the back window and force entry to the unit.
The dramatic arrest and unfolding drama was all caught on security footage.
“This house was like the show Hoarders” she said.
“There was just rubbish piled to the roof.
“It was vile, she would not have been able to use the toilet. I don’t know how she lived.”
A City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) spokesman confirmed complaints were made about the condition of the unit prior to the discovery of the man’s body.
It’s believed a council staff member attempted to engage with the tenant on one occasion before contacting the DFFH.
Health concerns were also raised with the city by several concerned Russell St residents.
“The property owner (DFFH) was contacted and they stated that appropriate action would be taken,” the CoGG spokesman said.
It’s understood the Geelong housing office was alerted on several occasions by members of the public concerned about the mental welfare of the female tenant, and the horrendous state of the unit.
A DFFH spokesman said welfare checks had been made “since 2021” after growing concerns over a lack of contact, lack of access and the poor state of the property.
“This is a tragic incident,” the spokesman said.
“We send our sincerest condolences to the man’s family and friends.
“Departmental staff offered support at the time to neighbouring residents and family involved.”
It’s believed the disturbing breakdown has prompted a complete overhaul of how welfare concerns and issues are escalated within the Geelong office.
Another longtime resident on the Newtown street said the incident “was a stain”.
“A lot of people have been let down by the system here,” he said.
“I don’t know how this has happened.”
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Originally published as Newtown woman lived with dead brother’s body for years in DFFH ‘House of Horrors’
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