Authorities in Georgia have arrested seven people after they allege they found signs of burglary in the home of a 71-year-old man who police believe died a few months ago and was left decomposing in the house.
The seven people have not been charged in connection with the man’s death, which police believe was from natural causes.
Robert Westbrook, 71, was found dead in his bathtub in his Smyrna, Ga., home earlier this month when authorities were conducting a welfare check at the residence, per investigators, Atlanta News First, Local 3 News and WSB-TV reported.
The victim was named only by Atlanta News First.
“He was in a severe state of decomposition – it’s called mummification,” Detective Daniel Goduto with the Cobb County Police Department said, per the outlet.
“They were living in his house for … I don’t know how long. He was located in the bathroom and there’s only one bathroom in the house,” Goduto said, per WSB-TV.
Police determined Westbrook was likely in that state for three months and appeared to have died from natural causes, per Atlanta News First.
It wasn’t immediately clear who requested the welfare check. Police told WSB-TV that all of Westbrook’s family members are deceased.
7 suspects take over dead man’s home with his mummified body still inside, live off his moneynone
Goduto found the home “ransacked” when he arrived there, he said, according to Atlanta News First, Local 3 News and WSB-TV.
“Drawers were overturned, his master bedroom was completely just disheveled,” Goduto said, per Atlanta News First. “But then there were items consistent with somebody still living there.”
“His belongings were in the middle of the room and it was clear that people were going through it, looking for things of value to take,” he told Local 3 News.
The following day, a neighbor called 911 to say there were unknown people on Westbrook’s property, per police, Atlanta News First reported.
Goduto found four of the suspects at the location along with a computer monitor, bluetooth speaker and other items belonging to Westbrook, he told Local 3 News and Atlanta News First.
He alleged the suspects were in possession of the victim’s credit cards and had some checks from him, per WSB-TV and Atlanta News First.
The seven suspects face multiple charges, including burglary, per the report.
