Nephew kept his aunt's body in their apartment for a month after she died
A man has been arrested after allegedly hiding his aunt's dead body tucked up in bed for at least a month, all while he continued living at the home.
Charles Frederick Peters, from Georgia, US, was detained by DeKalb County officers on Tuesday after they found 88-year-old Elizabeth Stewart's decomposing body in her bedroom at her Emory Square apartment in Atlanta, The AJC reported.
Authorities revealed the body was found in bed with the woman's face covered by a towel.
Although detectives believe Stewart died around one month ago, the last sighting of her was three months prior to the discovery, throwing uncertainty over when she died.
According to Officer C.M. Delon, Peters, 37, had moved into the home one year ago.
Her body was discovered when the building's manager Vincent Rodriguez returned to the home following a broken promise from Peters to pay overdue rent.
Noticing the back door was open, he entered the property but after detecting a strong odour coming from the bedroom, he called the police.
"It was obvious that someone was still living in the apartment," Officer Delon said.
A warrant report also suggests scented candles and air fresheners had been used to mask the stench of the body, 11Alive reported.
A medical examiner determined that Stewart died of natural causes and her body was taken to Levitt and Sons Funeral Home.
Aside from Peters, her relatives didn't know of her death, police said.
Peters is being held at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office on charges of concealing the death of another person.
