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Nat · Jul 3rd, 2009, 02:02 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-missing.html

Woman, 85, lay dead in her flat for FIVE YEARS before anyone noticed

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 5:25 PM on 03rd July 2009

An elderly woman lay dead in her flat for up to five years, it was revealed today.

The badly decomposed body of Isabella Purves, who would have been 90 this year, was found by police earlier this week. Officers forced their way into her flat in the respectable Canonmills area of Edinburgh after a neighbour reported water dripping through the ceiling.

They had to fight their way through piles of unopened mail behind her front door. It is thought her pension was paid directly into a bank account and utility bills were paid by direct debit.

Police are trying to trace her relatives.

Neighbours in Rodney Street spoke today of their horror at the discovery.
Giovanni Cilia, who owns the Fioritalia florist below Ms Purves's traditional tenement flat, said he was shocked at how long it took to find her.

He said: 'How did no one notice the smell, or wonder where she was? I heard there was a big pile of letters and bills behind the door. 'I used to see her walk past the shop maybe four times a week. She would often go across the street and pick up litter to clean the place up.'

Mr Cilia, who has run the shop for 20 years, added: 'It's shocked everyone here. When I saw her she looked quite fit and healthy for her age.

She used to wear boots and would often carry a rucksack like she enjoyed going for walks.'

Michael Singh Kille, who works in a newsagent's three doors along, said he saw a stretcher taken from the building. He said: 'The police came and knocked down the door, then a private ambulance came after that. 'They took a stretcher up and when it came down it didn't look as though it had anything on it, just a very slight shape.'

David Crystal, an optometrist who has run his business near the flat for 22 years, said Ms Purves had been a client. He said: 'I haven't seen her for 12 years. I last saw her in 1997 and we've sent her five reminders. 'For someone who doesn't have any family in this automated society, you can understand how it can happen.

You can read the rest of the story at the above link

kawaiiflipchica · Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:16 PM

Wow. Really.... that's a good question! HOW did no one notice the smell!?!??! And if nobody had seen her walk around why didn't anyone QUESTION where she was?

Nat · Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:35 PM

I know!! And her body was only found after a downstairs neighbour noticed water dripping through the ceiling of her flat?!

Water dripping through the ceiling after 5 years?! I wonder how that happened.

twin53 · Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:41 PM

tragic

la miss · Jul 3rd, 2009, 06:01 PM

How sad.

BagAngel · Jul 3rd, 2009, 09:25 PM

How incredibly sad!

candypants1100 · Jul 3rd, 2009, 11:10 PM

that is so sad. ....wonder if she has family...

Pinkcaviar · Jul 3rd, 2009, 11:47 PM

Very sad and an unfortunate example of neglect when it comes to people who are old and alone. =(

HauteMama · Jul 4th, 2009, 12:44 AM

What a tragedy that someone could be so invisible. I just cannot comprehend that the poor woman had no friends or family who might have checked on her during those years. As a society, we might all do well to know our neighbors a little better. A little caring goes a long way.

QueenOfDa702 · Jul 4th, 2009, 05:35 AM

Thats horribly sad. I also wonder how NOBODY smelled the body?! There's got to be SOMEONE who was friends with her....

CCfor C · Jul 5th, 2009, 05:42 PM

It reminds me of the song..."Eleanor Rigby"...so sad.

frenchtoast · Jul 5th, 2009, 09:10 PM

That is so sad. That poor lady. I wonder if she has any family? It seems somone would have noticed the smell, or a neighbor would have checked on her?

gloss_gal · Jul 5th, 2009, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by HauteMama

What a tragedy that someone could be so invisible. I just cannot comprehend that the poor woman had no friends or family who might have checked on her during those years. As a society, we might all do well to know our neighbors a little better. A little caring goes a long way.

So true. What a sad story. RIP.

Jahpson · Jul 6th, 2009, 12:14 PM

the fact that they are still trying to trace her relatives make it not that surprising that no one has checked for her in 5 years.

sad story. Unfortunately she isn't the only elder who is alone and won't be the last.

Veelyn · Jul 6th, 2009, 02:18 PM

Goes to show she had no one checking on her.. family or friends.. so sad.

And I wondered how the water would be dripping too? I guess just old pipes.

RIP!

Jul 3rd, 2009, 02:02 PM	#1
Nat OP Cocooning Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 16,758	Woman, 85, Lay Dead In Her Flat For FIVE YEARS Before Anyone Noticed http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-missing.html Woman, 85, lay dead in her flat for FIVE YEARS before anyone noticed By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 5:25 PM on 03rd July 2009 An elderly woman lay dead in her flat for up to five years, it was revealed today. The badly decomposed body of Isabella Purves, who would have been 90 this year, was found by police earlier this week. Officers forced their way into her flat in the respectable Canonmills area of Edinburgh after a neighbour reported water dripping through the ceiling. They had to fight their way through piles of unopened mail behind her front door. It is thought her pension was paid directly into a bank account and utility bills were paid by direct debit. Police are trying to trace her relatives. Neighbours in Rodney Street spoke today of their horror at the discovery. Giovanni Cilia, who owns the Fioritalia florist below Ms Purves's traditional tenement flat, said he was shocked at how long it took to find her. He said: 'How did no one notice the smell, or wonder where she was? I heard there was a big pile of letters and bills behind the door. 'I used to see her walk past the shop maybe four times a week. She would often go across the street and pick up litter to clean the place up.' Mr Cilia, who has run the shop for 20 years, added: 'It's shocked everyone here. When I saw her she looked quite fit and healthy for her age. She used to wear boots and would often carry a rucksack like she enjoyed going for walks.' Michael Singh Kille, who works in a newsagent's three doors along, said he saw a stretcher taken from the building. He said: 'The police came and knocked down the door, then a private ambulance came after that. 'They took a stretcher up and when it came down it didn't look as though it had anything on it, just a very slight shape.' David Crystal, an optometrist who has run his business near the flat for 22 years, said Ms Purves had been a client. He said: 'I haven't seen her for 12 years. I last saw her in 1997 and we've sent her five reminders. 'For someone who doesn't have any family in this automated society, you can understand how it can happen. You can read the rest of the story at the above link
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Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:35 PM	#3
Nat OP Cocooning Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 16,758	I know!! And her body was only found after a downstairs neighbour noticed water dripping through the ceiling of her flat?! Water dripping through the ceiling after 5 years?! I wonder how that happened.
	__________________

Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:41 PM	#4
twin53 Member Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 4,149	tragic
twin53 Member Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 4,149

Jul 3rd, 2009, 06:01 PM	#5
la miss parigote Joined: May 2007 Location: on the street, giving the sink eye Posts: 3,267	How sad.
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Jul 3rd, 2009, 09:25 PM	#6
BagAngel Louis Vuitton Addict Joined: Oct 2006 Location: UK Posts: 20,209	How incredibly sad!
	__________________ Wishlist Louis Vuitton Black Riveting Balenciaga black Part Time with GSH Louis Vuitton black/white Leopard scarf (2006) Chanel black GST with silver hardware Mahina Xl or XXL in gris

Jul 3rd, 2009, 04:16 PM	#2
kawaiiflipchica Member Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 5	Wow. Really.... that's a good question! HOW did no one notice the smell!?!??! And if nobody had seen her walk around why didn't anyone QUESTION where she was?

Jul 3rd, 2009, 11:10 PM	#7
candypants1100 Member Joined: May 2008 Location: candyland Posts: 4,549	that is so sad. ....wonder if she has family...
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Jul 3rd, 2009, 11:47 PM	#8
Pinkcaviar Mr.Roman & his Stare Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 2,942	Very sad and an unfortunate example of neglect when it comes to people who are old and alone. =(
	__________________ Personal Blog me.cherrymuffin.com Twitter twitter.com/~MissKailyn

Jul 4th, 2009, 12:44 AM	#9
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,759	What a tragedy that someone could be so invisible. I just cannot comprehend that the poor woman had no friends or family who might have checked on her during those years. As a society, we might all do well to know our neighbors a little better. A little caring goes a long way.
HauteMama Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,759

Jul 4th, 2009, 05:35 AM	#10
QueenOfDa702 R.I.P MJ Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Where its hot, dry, and dusty. Posts: 7,641	Thats horribly sad. I also wonder how NOBODY smelled the body?! There's got to be SOMEONE who was friends with her....
	__________________ Valeen

Jul 5th, 2009, 05:42 PM	#11
CCfor C Gobble gobble! Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,288	It reminds me of the song..."Eleanor Rigby"...so sad.
CCfor C Gobble gobble! Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,288	__________________ "We have met the enemy and he is us"...Pogo

Jul 5th, 2009, 09:10 PM	#12
frenchtoast Member Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 369	That is so sad. That poor lady. I wonder if she has any family? It seems somone would have noticed the smell, or a neighbor would have checked on her?

Jul 6th, 2009, 12:14 PM	#14
Jahpson Member Joined: Aug 2007 Location: The Playground Posts: 21,740	the fact that they are still trying to trace her relatives make it not that surprising that no one has checked for her in 5 years. sad story. Unfortunately she isn't the only elder who is alone and won't be the last.
	__________________ Michael Joseph Jackson 1958-2009

Jul 6th, 2009, 02:18 PM	#15
Veelyn BABYGiRL <3 Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Fangtasia Posts: 13,503	Goes to show she had no one checking on her.. family or friends.. so sad. And I wondered how the water would be dripping too? I guess just old pipes. RIP!
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