A 73-year-old man was found dead alone in his flat at Block 630 Hougang Avenue 8.

He was discovered when his wife came to visit him on Feb. 20, 2024.

No one answered the door at that time.

He was found dead four days later at about 11:35am, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Lived alone

One neighbour told Shin Min that the deceased had lived there for nearly 10 years.

He was often alone and liked to hoard things, she said.

She added that she avoided the old man as he was known to get into conflict with other neighbours.

"He was a tall and big guy who usually rode his bicycle out to buy breakfast. The last time I saw him was last week," she stated.

She shared that the man used to live with his wife, who moved out several years ago.

Visit from estranged wife

When she paid a visit to the deceased's flat, the wife asked residents downstairs which unit her husband was in.

Believing that the woman no longer remembered her husband's address, the neighbour led her to his apartment.

They knocked on his door many times, but he never responded.

They ended up pushing open the front door, but there was still no sign of the man.

"The bedroom door was shut, so I believe the uncle died in his room," the neighbour told Shin Min.

She said the wife didn't say why she was visiting, and left after not being able to find her husband.

Foul stench

The next day, the neighbour noticed the smell of something rotten emanating into her house.

Thinking that a lizard or mouse had died somewhere, she searched the house to no avail.

The stench grew so strong that she even had trouble sleeping at night, she told Shin Min.

Sensing that something was amiss, the neighbour went to check out the man's unit.

She only dared to make a police report after other neighbours also voiced their suspicions.

Case of unnatural death

In response to Shin Min's queries, the police confirmed that they received a report of an unnatural death.

The man was found lying unconscious in his unit.

He was later pronounced dead.

According to preliminary investigations, no foul play was suspected.

Investigations are ongoing.

Top images via Google Maps and Shin Min Daily News