I live in the Bristol area in the United Kingdom. I once watched the
news (on either HTV news (an ITV division) or BBC Points West (a BBC
division, for local news on BBC1 channel). This was approx 1-3 years
ago (sorry, I really can't remember!).

There was a report that a woman had lived with her dead husband's body
for a large number of years. Again, my memory fails me, something like
5-20 years. She also had an adult child living with her (their own
child) who was disabled in some way (either mentally or physically,
I'm not sure).

The news report suggested that she slept with her husband's body all
those years. (Yuk). Unfortunately, this was one of the first news
reports I saw, and I never did follow the news afterwards to keep up
with what happened with the case.

What I would like to know, is what were the facts of the case. e.g.
was this true or media speculation, was everything the news reports
said at the time is true? Did this go to the criminal courts, and for
what crime? And has the lady in question made any comments about this
case?

This was based in the areas that are covered by BBC Points West or HTV
News, which covers the south west of England, though I am pretty sure
that it was not far from Bristol.

---

Clarification of Question by pinkhippo-ga on 04 Dec 2002 06:36 PST

The lady in question was quite elderly.

When I say "slept with dead body", I mean they shared the same bed.

The news said that neighbours did not realise that the husband had died.

Hello pinkhippo and thank you for your question.

Yes, the story is true!
1.) The incident took place in Locking, North Somerset, on February
14th 2001.
2.) The discovery was made that Mrs.Iris Page had had a stroke on
Valentines day 2001 after her autistic son telephoned for medical
help.
3.) No the case did not go to court, because Mrs.Iris Page died 12
days after the discovery of the body.
4.) Mrs.Iris Page never made any statements as she never regained
consciousness.
5.) Mr.Page had died some 18 months before the discovery of his body!

"The body of a man who may have been dead for as long as 18 months was
found lying in bed at home in Locking by ambulance crew called to
treat his wife after she fell.
The body of 75-year-old Alfred Page was found in the same bed used by
his wife Iris, who is 73, on Valentine's Day."
http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/archived_material/2001/News/01-02-23news/asp/01-02-23Body.asp

A more detailed account of the story can be found here:
http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/archived_material/2001/News/01-05-25News/asp/01-05-25MichaelPage.asp

I thought at first you might be refering to Plymouth artist, Robert
Lenkiewicz who died in August of 2002.  He lived with the mumified
body of a tramp for many years. Mr.Lenkiewicz embalmed the body of the
tramp himself much to the dissaproval of the local council.
For this story click on the link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2320955.stm
Incidentaly, Robert Lenkiewicz sketched my and my sisters portrait
when I was seven years old, (some thirty years ago)at the Barbican in
Plymouth.

Thank you for your question, and if you need any clarification of my
answer, do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards

THX1138

Search strategy included:
"dead husband" bed site:.uk -sperm
://www.google.com/search?q=+%22dead+husband%22+bed+site:.uk+-sperm&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&start=10&sa=N

I don't know how you found it! I couldn't think of the search terms to
use. But thank you for satisfying my mild morbid curiosity!

Another instance of this was depicted in HBO's series, "Autopsy" in a
segment called "The Strange Obsession of Dr. Carl von Cosel."  Very
strange indeed!
http://www.hbo.com/autopsy/files_html/sub_pages/insider6.html