Woman, 73, found dead in Chai Chee HDB flat

After not being seen for five days, a 73-year-old woman was found dead in a Chai Chee flat on Dec. 11.

Police told Mothership that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 23 Chai Chee Road at about 12:10pm on Dec. 11.

A 73-year-old woman was found lying motionless in a residential unit and was pronounced dead at scene.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that it assisted police in gaining access to the unit.

Unit piled high with items

A Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min) reporter who visited the scene at 2pm observed that police had cordoned off the area outside a 12th-floor unit.

Three police officers were seen conducting investigations.

The wooden door to the unit had been broken down, with miscellaneous items strewn on the floor outside.

There were piles of items in the unit with little room to walk, Shin Min reported.

Residents told Shin Min the deceased was living alone, and would often collect old or secondhand items to return to her flat.

Last seen 5 days ago

A neighbour, surnamed Ling (transliteration), told Shin Min that she last saw the deceased on Dec. 6.

She said the deceased moved in about six years ago, was a friendly person and would greet her when they crossed paths, Liang said.

Occasionally, the deceased would offer to takeaway coffee for her.

"The morning of the incident, I smelled an unusual odour and suspected something might have happened," Ling told Shin Min.

Liang added that many elderly people live on the block, and two of the opposite units are currently vacant.

Shin Min reported that it's the area's third case of elderly living alone found dead in their homes within five months.

Used to run a beauty salon

Another neighbour, Shen (transliteration), said that the deceased used to run a beauty salon when she was younger, but it has since closed.

Shen said that the deceased had the habit of buying six to seven cups of coffee per day and would sit downstairs by herself to drink.

Police told Mothership that based on preliminary investigations, they do not suspect foul play.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News