In a shocking investigation, the coroner revealed how a woman failed to notice her husband’s body in their home for eight months.
A tragic story reveals how neglect and circumstances led to a prolonged discovery of a missing man.
In April 2022, Jennifer Maedge reported her husband, Richard Maedge, missing.
He had called her to say he was leaving work early due to illness.
When Jennifer returned home, she saw Richard’s car in the driveway.
She also noticed his wallet, keys, and cards were inside the house.
Despite these signs, Richard was nowhere to be found.
Police rearched failed to locate Richard Maedge’s body
Jennifer immediately felt alarmed. She contacted the police, who conducted a search of the home. However, they found no signs of Richard.
The house’s disarray made the search challenging. Authorities described the living conditions as “sewer-like” and classified it as a “hoarder home.”
Despite the initial search, Richard’s body remained undiscovered for eight months.
Jennifer discovered her husband’s body while decorating for Christmas
It wasn’t until December, while preparing for Christmas, that Jennifer stumbled upon Richard’s body.
“I decided to put the Christmas tree up,” she shared. “I was looking for a tote of Christmas ornaments, and that’s when I discovered him.”
The Coroner revealed Richard Maedge died by suicide
The coroner investigated the situation and concluded that Richard had died by suicide.
They noted that, during the months since his death, Richard’s body had effectively been mummified.
This preservation meant it produced fewer foul odors, which could have led to an earlier discovery.
Richard’s sister, Marilyn Toliver, expressed her outrage.
She criticized the authorities for not locating her brother sooner.
In an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, she demanded answers, saying, “I need answers from the police chief. I need answers from the mayor. How is this even possible?”
Marilyn vowed to pursue answers, stating, “Mistakes were made, and I want answers. If it means filing a complaint and going all the way to the governor, I will.”
Police in Troy, Illinois, maintained that they conducted thorough searches of the property.
They insisted they found no evidence indicating anything suspicious regarding Richard’s death.
Authorities reported, “There were no other injuries found during the autopsy examination or evidence found that would indicate anything nefarious regarding Mr. Maedge’s death.”
The tragic case of Richard Maedge highlights the devastating consequences of neglect and miscommunication.
It raises important questions about the effectiveness of searches conducted by authorities.
This story serves as a reminder of the need for diligence and thoroughness in missing person cases.