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CINCINNATI-While her family and former caregiver lived downstairs, a dead woman's body was placed in a chair in front of a television set for 2 ½ years because she'd told her caregiver she didn't want to be buried and was planning on returning.
The sister of 61-year-old Johannas Pope called police last week, saying she had seen her sister's corpse during a visit to the house. When police went to investigate, they found the mummified body in front of a playing TV and an air conditioner running.
An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death but police said there did not appear to be any signs of abuse or foul play. She had reportedly suffered from lupus and had rejected medical care.
Caregiver Cathy Painter, 42, lived downstairs in the house with Pope's 36-year-old daughter and her 3-year-old granddaughter who was born in November after her grandmother had died in August, 2003.
Police said that Painter kept the air conditioner running, covered the heating vents in the winter and used insect repellent to try to deter maggots and flies as the body decayed and eventually mummified.
No charges have been filed and police said that Painter apparently sincerely believed that Pope was coming back to life at some point and was trying to comply with Pope's stated wishes out of "love and loyalty". Painter reportedly visited the body at least once a day. There is no indication that Painter or Pope's daughter benefited in anyway. 1-10-06
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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