JENNINGS, Mo., March 8 (UPI) -- Three weeks after a 75-year-old Missouri woman was found dead in her home, mummified remains believed to be those of her mother were found, officials said.
Neighbors described Gladys Jean Bergmeier, found dead in her Jennings, Mo., home on Feb. 7, as a pack rat who filled her home with plants and plastic bags stuffed with papers and trash, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.
Weeks after her death, a relative going through the rubbish discovered mummified remains believed to be those of Bergmeier's long-unseen mother, Gladys Stansbury, the newspaper said.
Neighbors said they didn't even realize Bergmeier's mother had been living with her.
"It's just shocking," said Gussie Harrison, who lives across the street from the home where Bergmeier lived for more than 35 years.
Gwen Haugen, a forensic investigator with the St. Louis County medical examiner's office, said it is unknown how long the remains had been in the home.
Stansbury, who was born in 1913, moved into the home with Bergmeier after the 1993 floods, Haugen said, and other relatives had not had any contact with Stansbury after that.
"It appears (Bergmeier) couldn't let go (of her mother)," Haugen said. "This woman always had excuses as to where (Stansbury) might be. As time went on, people just stopped asking."
"She was a very nice, sweet little lady," Harrison said. "Didn't seem like she could hurt a fly."
