Decomposing body found with minors, identified
The decomposed body of a man found locked inside a flat with two minors in the east of Pretoria was identified on Thursday morning.
The decomposing body of a man in found a locked flat with two minors in Faerie Glen was identified to be that of their father.
This was confirmed by the police on Thursday.
“Police confirm the deceased was the father to the two children,” said Boschkop police spokesperson Captain Marissa van der Merwe
The man and the two children, a four-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother, were found on Tuesday afternoon.
Van der Merwe said a psychiatrist and a family member arrived on the scene after relatives of the man were notified.
A source close to the investigation said the children might have been locked in the flat for more than three days.
“A neighbour said the last time they saw the man was on Sunday, which might be a strong indication of when the man died,” said the source.
The children were collected by a relative on Tuesday night after they received counselling.
After cordoning off the flat for investigation, the police removed the body from the residence.
Police said the mother to the two children was called and was making her way to collect the children from a relative this week.
Police could not say when she would arrive. Van der Merwe said an inquest would be conducted.
“Police found no signs forced entry or foul play, but would continue investigating,” said Van der Merwe.
The body and the two of his children were found after a gardener picked up a bad smell from the flat.
He notified the caretaker who investigated.
Police said after minutes of knocking and trying to gain entry into the flat, he finally heard a noise
He peeked threw a window and saw one of the children. He gained access after asking the child to open the door.
“The caretaker found a decomposing body of a man and called the police,” Van der Merwe said
A resident at the complex said she became aware of the foul smell two days earlier, indicating that the body had been there for a while.
She said she had no clue of its origins.
Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Officer Miller said:
“Police would still confirm the cause of the man’s death.”
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