Woman’s body lay at home for eight years

When she apparently vanished in Sydney in 2003, no one called the police, including her only relative, neighbours, or government officials who kept paying her welfare benefits into a bank account that sat untouched.

The woman’s skeletal remains were found on Tuesday, after her sister-in-law finally called to report she had not heard from the woman – who would have turned 87 next month – since 2003.

“It’s sad the woman appears to have died several years ago without anyone noticing,” said South Wales police Acting Superintendent Zoran Dzevlan.

Officers do not think the death was suspicious.

The woman, whose name was not released by police, was a recluse who had no relatives except for her sister-in-law, Mr Dzevlan said. The two had a row in 2003 and never spoke again.

Police have not said why the sister-in-law waited years to report the woman missing, or what prompted her to call now.

As the years passed, utility companies cut off the power and water to the woman’s home. Centrelink, the government’s welfare agency, continued to pay her benefits to her bank account, which remained untouched.

Neighbours assumed the house was vacant.