Community | August 06, 2008 | 9 comments

Police: Man was dead two years in home

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042112/Pensioner-lay-dead-bed-YEARS-neighbours-noti...

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TravG73
A reclusive pensioner who died in his bed lay undiscovered for two years.

The semi-mummified body of 70-year-old Brian Dean was found by police after neighbors finally became concerned about his welfare.

But it was only when they checked the mail lying on his doormat that they realized he had been dead for two years before anyone noticed.

The case yesterday led to calls for people to watch over elderly neighbors as family bonds become weaker.

Neighbors said Mr Dean, a retired engineer, was a recluse who was not married and had no children or other close family.

There had been no obvious cause for concern since he was last seen because utility bills and council tax had all been paid by direct debit from his bank account.

A post mortem revealed he died of natural causes. Residents said they were horrified by the discovery at the two-bedroom terraced house in Huncoat, near Burnley.
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    Community,   WTF
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9 comments // Police: Man was dead two years in home

  • sofaslug
    • 0
      sofaslug  

    • Mail had piled up on his doorstep. Shouldn't the postal carrier have contacted authorities to have a wellness check done on this man? What a sad state of affairs we live in.

    • 3 years ago
  • Purdey
  • squeezemeteaseme
    • 0
      squeezemeteaseme  

    • That is a terrible thing that our society allows situations where that is possible. What about systems in place for social security pensions or benefits etc? Even those do yearly checks etc don't they? He had to be getting his money from somewhere for the DD to continue going out?
      Even in this increasingly insular society you would hope that someone would notice...2 yrs worth of mail piling up behind the door....overgrown garden...curtains and lights never changing....the smell!!!?? It is terrible to see this happen, however it is a sign of how distant people can make themselves to those around them.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanaPokana
    • 0
      JanaPokana  

    • Yes, it is sad that someone's death could go unnoticed for such a long period of time, but I have a problem with blaming the neighbours. Some people really do choose to be isolated and don't want any company.

    • 3 years ago
  • rrr
    • 0
      rrr  

    • It's truthfully sad, that the neighbors did not take an interest in an old man that they knew had no friends or family.

      Be kind and bring the man a snack or the newspaper every week or something and provide him some company and compassion!

    • 3 years ago
  • Azucena
  • nata0204
  • taintedview
  • regjoeschmo
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