'Woman Sydney Forgot' Lay Dead For Eight Years

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent | Sky News – 16 hours ago
The tragic case of a woman who died in her city centre home but lay undisovered for up to eight years has caused much soul searching in Sydney, Australia.

Natalie Wood has been described as "the woman Sydney forgot" after her skeletal remains were discovered in an upstairs bedroom by police in July 2011.

She was found just before what would have been her 87th birthday.

Now an inquest into her death has been hearing details about how the former war bride and seamstress became isolated from family, neighbours and society.

Mrs Wood's sister-in-law, Enid May Davis, told the inquest she had no hobbies "except watching television" and would fill her days walking to the shops or down to Sydney’s harbour.

Mrs Davis also said Mrs Wood did not have a fridge after her previous one had rusted.

The last time she saw Mrs Wood in person was on January 3, 2003.

It was also revealed to the court that Mrs Wood had a brain tumour.

The Davis family was alerted by medical officials when Mrs Wood was hospitalised in November 2003.

Mrs Davis said they had no time to visit her or make contact.

"I had no time. My husband (who had dementia) was in 24/7 care," she said.

They never spoke again and Mrs Davis told police she saw Mrs Wood for the last time from a bus window on January 30, 2004.

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Wills told the Glebe Coroners Court: "She kept to herself.

"It got to a point she answered the door with a special knock."

Mr Wills also said there was no mattress found in the house, which has been estimated to be worth around £530,000.

Neither did police find a TV in the building, a purse or wallet.

However, rings and other valuables were not touched and there were cobwebs and dust everywhere, Mr Wills said.

Police have struggled to work out how she died, given the length of time the body was left, but think she probably slipped over and could not get back up.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald Mrs Wood had no will, no children, and her husband and parents were long dead.

Her sister-in-law and a number of cousins are believed to be staking claim to her estate.  

Utility companies and the local council failed to report something was amiss, despite having unpaid bills.

Her bank and the agency paying her pension also failed to alert police despite years without any withdrawals.

It meant no-one looked for Mrs Wood or enquired about her well-being.

According to the newspaper just two people attended her funeral, one of them was Detective Senior Constable Wills.

A small plaque where her ashes are laid says simply ''Natalie Jean Wood … Loved and remembered.''


 

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The Davis family was alerted by medical officials when Mrs Wood was hospitalised in November 2003.

Mrs Davis said they had no time to visit her or make contact.

Mr Wills also said there was no mattress found in the house, which has been estimated to be worth around £530,000.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald Mrs Wood had no will, no children, and her husband and parents were long dead.

Her sister-in-law and a number of cousins are believed to be staking claim to her estate.






Of course, extended family members who had no time for her in life, have all the time in the world for chasing her money, after she's dead.



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that is just very sad. And a little unbelievable. Nobody noticed if bills went unpaid? Or no withdrawals? To me, that is suspicious activity & should be inquired about. That kind of negligence is really disheartening.

 

Tragic! There was a disabled woman who lived not far from my childhood home. My Mum had occasion to speak to her one day and said to her, Let me know if I can do anything to help.

Years later she was put in a nursing home. She called a taxi and made her way home. Then she phoned my Mum to take her up on the offer.

My Mum and my schoolgirl sister used to visit her every day for years taking her home-cooked meals (it was quite a walk) and attending to her toileting needs.

Mum thought she'd better let her daughter know, so she made contact.

Just let me know when she's dead, said the daughter. Then I'll be there to collect the proceeds.

It was subject to a court case; my Mum and sister were asked to give evidence.

In another tragic case a little girl went missing for 18 months before her mother reported her missing to the police. Her body is still not found.

It is a sad state our society is in.


Matthew 24:12

And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.

Why would Catholics watch a militant anti-church machine like sky news?

Why would Catholics watch a militant anti-church machine like sky news?

May of us read the news on syndicated websites.  Not by brand.