Woman in Sengkang flat double death relied on father for food, weighed only 24kg when discovered: Coroner report

There was no evidence of foul play in the deaths of Xu Baolu and Xu Na, a state coroner said on May 15, 2026.

CNA reported that State Coroner Adam Nakhoda delivered an open verdict on the inquiries into the deaths of the father and daughter.

Bodies discovered in October 2025

Earlier reports mentioned that their bodies were discovered on Oct. 6, 2025, at their Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat at Block 324D Sengkang East Way after neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from the unit.

The father's body was later found in the bedroom in a severe state of decomposition.

The younger Xu's body was discovered near the main door in the living room.

Then aged 48, she weighed only 24kg when she was discovered.

She likely suffered from psychiatric issues, CNA reported the coroner as saying.

Based on the experience of the family's neighbours, it was also clear that she needed help.

According to CNA, the coroner noted the younger Xu to likely be fully dependent on her father, then 75, for her nutritional needs, as neighbours said he bought food for her every day.

He was presumed dead for more than three months when he was found, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Reclusive

Zaobao noted that the older Xu was described as reclusive, with the report adding that he did not have close friends or acquaintances, and neighbours had not seen the family receive visitors.

The report noted that the older Xu was deeply devoted to his daughter, the coroner said: "Attention he paid to his daughter may have been to his own detriment as he may have neglected his own health.", CNA reported.

There was no evidence to show that the older Xu had medical check-ups or seen a doctor when he was sick, and any chronic illnesses the 75-year-old may have had would have been undiagnosed.

Mental health issues

In that regard, CNA reported that in 2022, the younger Xu saw doctors at the Institute of Mental Health.

She did not return to the hospital to get a confirmed diagnosis or treatment for her condition, despite suffering from psychosis then, according to CNA.

Noting that she was unable to function without her father's assistance due to her mental health issues being so debilitating, the coroner said: "It would appear she was fully dependent on him for her nutritional needs, as evidence from her neighbours was that he would purchase food for her daily."

When older Xu was last seen alive

He noted that the two were not financially strapped as the older Xu withdrew S$500 from a bank account every month.

According to Zaobao, his last withdrawal was made on Jun. 3, 2025.

The older Xu was last seen alive in June or July 2025 by one of his neighbours, who saw him bringing food back to his flat.

Given that one of the laptops found in the flat was last used on Jun. 18, 2025, the state coroner said that the older Xu had likely died on his bed in his bedroom in late June or early July 2025.

"Once he had passed away, Xu, due to her mental health issues, was unable perhaps to deal with his death, and as a result he was left unattended and began to decompose on the bed," said the coroner.

CNA reported that this aligns with the first time neighbours reported a smell to the town council.

The older Xu's bodily fluids were absorbed by the mattress while his body decomposed when he died on his bed, the coroner said, adding that his death may have been discovered earlier if the fluids had seeped into the floor instead.

When younger Xu was last seen alive

As for the younger Xu, she had an interaction with the police at a convenience store on Jun. 29, 2025, the coroner said, adding that she was likely last seen alive in August or September 2025, according to her neighbours' recollection.

The coroner said she could not take care of herself after her father died, likely because she could not go out to buy food for herself, rather than financial reasons.

Noting Xu weighed only 24kg and was malnourished when her body was found, the coroner said this may have contributed to her death.

Unsolved case

He concluded that there was no foul play in her death as there were no signs of a possible suicide or trauma, no internal or external injuries, and no evidence of the house being ransacked.

There were also no signs of trauma in the death of the older Xu.

The coroner added that due to the state of his skeletal remains, it was not possible to determine if he died of natural disease or unnatural causes, such as the ingestion of substances.

Zaobao reported that due to the younger Xu's body being severely decomposed, and the state of the older Xu, both their causes of death could not be determined.

As such, this was ruled to be an unsolved case.