A decomposed woman’s body was recovered from a concealed box-like structure beneath the kitchen slab of a rented house in Puri, Odisha, after the property’s landlady alerted police over a strong foul smell. The woman’s son, who had been living with her, is currently missing and is being treated as the prime suspect in the investigation.
The disturbing discovery was made late Monday night after concerns grew over the woman’s unexplained absence and the sudden appearance of foul-smelling wastewater and other material from beneath the kitchen area.
Strong foul smell raises suspicion
According to police, the woman and her son had been staying in the rented house for around two months. The landlady, Manorama Sahu, noticed that the woman had not been seen for several days. At the same time, her son reportedly disappeared from the premises on Monday.
Initially, Sahu suspected that the unpleasant smell coming from the kitchen could have been caused by a dead animal, such as a cat or rat. However, as the odour became increasingly strong, her suspicions intensified.
The situation became more alarming when wastewater and other material were reportedly seen emerging from beneath the kitchen slab. Fresh cement work in the area also attracted attention, prompting the landlady to contact the police.
A police team subsequently inspected the house and found that it was unoccupied. Investigators noticed signs that a structure beneath the kitchen slab had recently been sealed or altered.
Police and forensic team recover body
Police and forensic personnel spent several hours breaking open the box-like structure beneath the kitchen slab. The operation was carried out in the presence of an executive magistrate and a scientific team.
After the structure was opened, investigators recovered the decomposed body of the woman.
The condition of the remains indicated that the body had been concealed for several days. The deceased woman had not yet been formally identified by police at the time of the initial investigation.
The body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy is expected to provide crucial information regarding the possible cause and manner of death and may help investigators determine whether the woman was killed before her body was concealed.
Son’s disappearance adds to suspicion
Police have raised suspicion over the woman’s son because of his unexplained disappearance following her absence. Investigators are attempting to trace his whereabouts and establish whether he had any role in the woman’s death and the concealment of her body.
Police officials also said the son had reportedly been seen frequently under the influence of drugs and was known to have arguments with his mother. The family had also reportedly fallen behind on rent payments.
However, investigators have stressed that these circumstances alone do not establish guilt. Police are collecting scientific, forensic and technical evidence before reaching conclusions about what happened inside the house.
The son remains missing, and efforts are underway to locate and question him as part of the investigation.
Forensic evidence to determine what happened
Investigators are examining the house and the location where the body was discovered for evidence that could reconstruct the sequence of events.
The forensic investigation is expected to focus on the concealed structure, the kitchen area, the cement work and other material recovered from the premises. Police are also likely to examine available technical evidence and other leads that could establish the timeline of the woman’s disappearance and death.
The post-mortem examination will be particularly important in determining whether the woman suffered injuries or died from another cause. Investigators will also seek to establish when the death occurred and whether the body was deliberately concealed soon afterwards.
Police officials have said they are examining all available evidence to determine both the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and the reason behind the suspected concealment.
Investigation continues
The case has shocked residents in the area because of the manner in which the body was allegedly concealed inside a rented home. The discovery came only after the smell became difficult to ignore, prompting the landlady to seek police assistance.
Authorities are now working to establish a complete timeline of events, identify the deceased woman formally and locate her missing son.
Until the forensic examination and other investigative findings are completed, police have not reached a final conclusion regarding the exact circumstances of the death. The investigation remains ongoing, with scientific and technical evidence expected to play a key role in determining what happened inside the house.