DCSO: La Pine woman says sister was dead in home for 5 months
When a La Pine woman called for help after a fall in her home late last week, medics reported a strong odor at the home.
That led to a talk at St. Charles Bend with Deschutes County sheriff’s detectives, when the woman said her sister had died five months earlier – and her body was still in the home, authorities said Monday.
With an autopsy conducted Monday at the State Medical Examiner’s Office near Portland to confirm identification and determine cause of death, Detective Capt. John Bocciolatt revealed details of Friday’s discovery, but withheld names pending those elements of the investigation. More information is expected to be released Tuesday.
Bocciolatt told NewsChannel 21 the woman admitted her sister had died last fall and said she was relieved this day had arrived.
“It would appear the woman has some mental abnormalities,” Bocciolatt said. “She became fearful, didn’t know what to do and started drinking.”
While there were no signs of foul play, Bocciolatt said the sheriff’s office was handling the matter as a possible homicide until and unless autopsy results or the investigation find otherwise.
Neighbors said Monday they noticed a smell coming from the home but thought it was a dead animal.
They said the sister of the victim would never come out of the home.
Detectives have not said if the sister will face any criminal charges.
The sheriff’s office responded around 11:25 a.m. Friday to 52533 Center Drive in La Pine regarding a welfare check, Lt. Chad Davis said in a brief news release late Friday night.
During the investigation, a woman was found dead in her home, Davis said, adding that she “had been deceased for an extended period of time.”
Sheriff’s detectives responded to assist in the death investigation, along with the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory and the county’s medical examiner, the lieutenant said.
Deschutes County online property records show the county is owner of the property where the home is located.
