An elderly Alabama woman with Alzheimer’s Disease lived with her dead husband’s body for about a month, NBC News reports.
According to the county coroner, Jessie Claude Kirby, 75, of Decatur died of natural causes.
Police made the macabre discovery during a welfare check after family members of Kirby and his wife, Doris, 78, notified police that they had not heard from the couple in months.
2 dead dogs in the home appeared to have starved.
From NBC News:
Doris Kirby has Alzheimer’s disease and was unable to comprehend that officers were trying to check on her, the report said. Police had to force their way into the house, where Jessie Kirby was lying in his bed.
Doris Kirby was described as in poor health and was being treated at Decatur Morgan Hospital.
Two dead dogs, who appeared to have starved, were also found.
Dean Hayes, a neighbor who has known the Kirbys for decades, said she had a bad feeling when she saw police arrive Friday.
“Police cars were up and down the road,” Hayes told NBC station WAFF of Huntsville. “To think that all of us live right here, this close, and none of us knew anything about it.”
