Posted on 03/15/2023 3:24:09 AM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
TROY, Ill. (WKRC) — A woman in Illinois made a horrific discovery in her home while looking for Christmas decorations.
Eight months after her husband disappeared, Jennifer Maedge found his body inside a closet, according to KTVI.
Richard Maedge, 53, was reported missing on April 27, 2022. Jennifer told investigators he had called her to say he was leaving work early.
When she got home, he was gone, but his wallet, keys, and car were still there. Police did search the house at the time, but found no trace of Richard.
They described it as a “hoarder home" with a a “sewer-like” smell inside.
According to KTVI, Jennifer called police again later to report the odor. They conducted another search, noting that the odor was the same, but found nothing. A plumber put a cap on a sewer pipe in the basement, which apparently seemed to get rid of the smell.
On Dec. 11, Jennifer says she found Richard's body in a storage area behind a clothes cupboard under a staircase.
His death was ruled a suicide, with no other injuries or evidence of foul play.
The coroner says his body was beyond the decomposition stage, and his body fluids had dried up. According to the coroner's office, bodies in this state may not have a strong odor, which made the remains harder to locate.
Jennifer says she understands why police weren't able to find him, as the closet is concealed and the smell wasn't "overpowering."

(Excerpt) Read more at kmph.com ...
Not entirely sure I’m buying it.
CC
“Oh goodness! How did that get in there. For Pete’s sake, and to think he was here the whole time.”
Once they mentioned “hoarder house” I was a believer.
ya know, If he had just opened a bag of Doritos, she would have found him within 2 minutes.... just saying.
I had a close relative who went through a hoarder stage. It was incredible. He was saving old newspapers and any and all kinds of ephemera. He lost his mother very young, and his father a few years later. He lived alone, with minimal contact with other relatives. He did not cope well. I think he was clinging to memories of a happier childhood.
Suicide again? Where is the proof?
Did he hang himself somehow? Did he overdose on fentanyl? Was he found tied up and rolled in a carpet?
Because when you want to kill yourself, the first thought that comes to mind is hide in a closet.
Well!
I Declare!
I have difficulty believing that a police dog - one esp. trained for such tasks - couldn't have found him.
Regards,
Not all PDs have dogs. It actually takes a pretty good sized operation to have one.
“Hey, what are you doing in there?! Stop fooling around.”
“Once they mentioned “hoarder house” I was a believer.”
Me too. I went to work for Child Services/Welfare Dept. right out of high school. I accompanied the case workers on their home visits. I didn’t know some people actually lived like some of these people did. It made me OCD about cleaning for a long time. I’m still that way about having things in their place but a little mess doesn’t cause panic attacks. Most of these homes always smelled like something died in them.
He probably opened the closet to find something and everything collapsed trapping him. Hoard houses are frightening.
That woman obviously has lost her sense of smell.
"Ma'am, did you and your dear hubby have an active sex life...or did your hubby often disappear into the closet with girly magazines, a flashlight, and rope?"
Sudden death syndrome
Prayers for the deceased and those he left behind
Always in the last place you look.
Not always
Why keep looking after you’ve found it?
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