- Dead man in his apartment for over two years
In Aachen, a dead man lay undiscovered in his apartment for over two years. A spokesperson for the Aachen Public Prosecutor's Office stated that an investigation into his death found no evidence of foul play. The "Aachener Zeitung" and other media outlets reported on the case. Investigators believe the man died on December 31, 2021, or shortly thereafter, as that was the last time he emptied his mailbox and made contact with a relative by phone. The native Cologne resident was reportedly a long-time drug addict, according to the "Aachener Zeitung". He would have turned 56 years old.
In this tragic case, a real estate company had the apartment sealed off in the fall of 2022 due to unpaid rent. Despite reminders and attempts to contact him, the man did not respond. An eviction lawsuit was filed in August 2023.
Neighbors on the landing had noticed an unpleasant odor but did not recognize it as the smell of a decomposing body, investigators reported. The already mummified corpse was discovered on June 18, when an employee of the real estate company gained access to the apartment to investigate a water damage issue in the neighboring unit. The body has since been buried, the "Aachener Zeitung" reported.
The neighbours in the building were unaware of the decomposition happening within The Community, as the unpleasant odor they noticed wasn't immediately identified. Due to unpaid rent, the apartment was eventually sealed off by a real estate company, leading to the eventual discovery of the deceased resident.
