Mummified Body Found in Front of Blaring TV

[jdsooner]

This story is even more strange than Anna Nicole or Britney Spears:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Police called to a Long Island man's house discovered the mummified remains of the resident, dead for more than a year, sitting in front of a blaring television set.

The 70-year-old Hampton Bays, New York, resident, identified as Vincenzo Ricardo, appeared to have died of natural causes. Police said on Saturday his body was discovered on Thursday when they went to the house to investigate a report of a burst water pipe.

"You could see his face. He still had hair on his head," Newsday quoted morgue assistant Jeff Bacchus as saying. The home's low humidity had preserved the body.

Officials could not explain why the electricity had not been turned off, considering Ricardo had not been heard from since December 2005.

Neighbors said when they had not seen Ricardo, who was diabetic and had been blind for years, they assumed he was in the hospital or a long-term care facility.

[Ike]

this is what happens when you don't have friends or relatives that you talk to on a regular basis.

[VeeJay]

Wonder what channel the TV was on?

[MamaMia]

this is what happens when you don't have friends or relatives that you talk to on a regular basis.
If none of them cared enough to check on him in all that time, I can see why he didn't speak to them. They should be ashamed.

[fadada1]

Wonder what channel the TV was on?
probably had on american idol and died from overwhelming stupidity and lack of talent.

[jacru]

How did the body mummify instead of rot and stink up the neighborhood?

[sanantoniosooner]

How did the body mummify instead of rot and stink up the neighborhood?
They credited the low humidity in the apartment.

[def_lazer_fc]

They credited the low humidity in the apartment.
global warming did it.

[Okla-homey]

If he was blind, WTF did he have a TV? I should think a radio would have been sufficient.;)

[def_lazer_fc]

If he was blind, WTF did he have a TV? I should think a radio would have been sufficient.;)

who said he KNEW he was watching tv. ;)

[jacru]

They credited the low humidity in the apartment.
oops, I could've read that.:O
He must have lived in a food dehydrator. hmm... people jerky.

[IronSooner]

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Police called to a Long Island man's house discovered the mummified remains of the resident, dead for more than a year, sitting in front of a blaring television set.



[moms everywhere]Now go outside and play kids, or you'll turn into a mummy! [/moms everywhere]

[Soonrboy]

I'm still in disbelief that the electricity was still on after a year.

[NormanPride]

This is how FOX News gets their ratings. :D

[Flagstaffsooner]

Wonder what channel the TV was on?The Golf Channel, he was bored to death.

[OUDoc]

The Golf Channel, he was bored to death.
So he missed 4Life's hole-in-one?

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Okay, how were the bills payed? Automatic withdrawal? I mean, electricity and water on for a year??? I don't get it.

[jdsooner]

David Letterman had some fun with this in his monologue tonight. He said that it was so cold that the mummified guy out in Long Island got up and turned on the space heater.

He also said that the saddest part of it was that "CBS had lost a viewer."

[Ike]

Okay, how were the bills payed? Automatic withdrawal? I mean, electricity and water on for a year??? I don't get it.
If he had auto withdrawl set up for, say the rent and the utilities, and those amounts were less than his social security (plus whatever other retirement monies) check(s) that were deposited via automatic deposit...then I can see everything staying on until someone realizes the dude is dead.


but thats just one theory. I don't know if SS or retirement funds can come in on auto-deposit.