WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — Greene County Regional Police are investigating why the death of a loved one wasn’t reported sooner after Chief Will DeForte said family members were living with the decomposing body for several months.
Officers found Michael Bebout, 64, dead in his bed inside a home on Hayes Avenue in Canton Township in Washington County.
Chief DeForte said they made the gruesome discovery on Thursday, Jan. 16 after a family member called 911 for a welfare check.
“Upon arrival, we met the brother. The brother was distraught and basically stated that his brother had passed away,” he said. “That’s where things took a turn, a very interesting turn.”
DeForte told Channel 11 the body had been in the home since the start of summer.
“My officer who was dispatched to that particular location, found the decedent in an advanced state of decomposition,” DeForte said. “The estimates right now are roughly around six to seven months.”
DeForte said at least three family members were living in the home with their dead relative during those months and in filthy conditions.
“The conditions were awful,” he said. “There was wall to wall dog feces. The situation looked like a hoarder had lived there, very difficult to traverse through the residence, and the odor was extraordinarily unpleasant.”
Detectives don’t believe Bebout died from any foul play, but Chief DeForte said they’re investigating whether Bebout’s checks were illegally cashed after he died.
“We’re going to be looking into social security checks, retirement checks and his bank accounts,” he said.
Channel 11 knocked on the door of the home. A woman came out and told Channel 11′s Antoinette DelBel she had no comment.
Neighbors told Channel 11 Bebout had been sick for a while and the whole situation is sad.
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