Woman found living with mummified mother for 30 years

Body was lying on a sofa next to religious iconography, officials say

A Ukrainian  woman was found living with the mummified body of her mother in a dingy apartment, MailOnline reported.

Police believe the 77-year-old woman had kept the remains of her deceased mother for the past 30 years in a flat riddled with rubbish including stacks of newspapers.

Officers found the body lying on a sofa next to religious iconography after being called to the address in the city of Mykolaiv by concerned neighbours.

The body was dressed in a white dress and head covering, with blue shoes and green socks. Her daughter - now an elderly woman herself - was found alive but paralysed in both legs.



She was discovered lying on the floor in urgent need of assistance. There was no water, gas or electricity supply in her apartment.

A police report said: "In order to rescue the 77-year-old woman, officers called the rescue service which helped to break into the flat."

"In one room on the floor was sitting a woman surrounded by rubbish. The pensioner could not walk and needed urgent help."

"An ambulance was called for her. Having checked other rooms, police found a mummified body of a woman."

"The woman pensioner lived alone, and did not communicate with her neighbours. She never opened her front door."

"Despite this, neighbours tried to take care of her and left food for her on the doorstep."

"Nobody guessed that the woman was living with a dead body of her mother. Now the mummified body was removed from the flat and sent to forensic experts."