adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE stench of rotting flesh led residents of Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo to the body of a man who appears to have died in his sleep in his house. The man, according to his neighbours, lived alone and is thought to have been about 60 years old. Charles Van Beek’s body that was in an advanced state of decomposition was found after residents broke down the door to his house on Friday.
“We had not seen him for a number of days. We notified police as soon as we saw the body. His death still remains a mystery and the exact date of when he passed on is still not clear,” said one of the neighbours.
“The police officers who came to collect the body had to go to the nearest clinic to ask for more gloves as the state of the body was very bad. Beek had been staying alone for a very long time and we suspect that he had been ill and had no one to take care of him.”
Another neighbour said Van Beek was very old and looked sick. He lived a lonely life and probably died of hunger as there was no one to cook for him.
“It is still a mystery to us but we did see police taking away the decomposed body. A strong stench emanated from the room where his body was found and because he lived alone, we suspect his health deteriorated till he died,” said the neighbour.
Police sources yesterday said they were yet to establish his next of kin but when the newscrew visited the home there were some women who were sitting in the lounge. The women declined to talk to the news crew.
“We have nothing to say because we are also in the dark about what could have happened to Charles,” said one of the women.
Besides the women, the house looked deserted with no sign that there was a funeral wake.
Cobwebs on the walls appeared to show that Van Beek was indeed a loner.
The neighbours seemed to be in shock.
His body is still at a city mortuary awaiting burial.
Online Reporter