Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cops freeing hoarder find her mum’s body
4-day search in crammed cottage uncovers remains
POLICE rescuing an obsessive hoarder who had collapsed in her home found the body of her mother, feared dead for up to four years.
Valerie Jones was found under mounds of paper when officers battled through the crammed cottage after being alerted by her neighbours.
After she was taken to hospital police began a search of the rest of the home.
Skips were brought in to collect the piles of belongings and four days later the badly decomposed remains of reclusive Gaynor Jones, 87, were found.
Valerie, in her 50s, was badly dehydrated and said to be lucky to be alive when she was taken from her home in Aberaeron, West Wales, to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.
One female neighbour said: “I think the mother was born there herself, the cottages have been in her family for a century. They were well known as the old family who kept themselves to themselves. They were very reclusive.
“You wouldn’t pop over for a cup of tea. You could describe them as odd.”
Another neighbour said he had not seen the pair in four years.
Cllr Elizabeth Evans had known the two women all her life and said: “The most important thing is Valerie is safe and in hospital.”
Dyfed-powys Police said Gaynor’s death was being treated as unexplained.
The force said in a statement: “Dyfedpowys Police received a report concerning the welfare of two women from Aberaeron.
“One female was taken to hospital. Following a search of the property the remains of a body have been found.
“The death is currently being treated as unexplained.”
Police said the coroner has been told and an inquest was due to be held.