Woman died from natural causes

A WOMAN whose body may have been kept in her Oldham living room for up to a year appeared to have died of natural causes.

Ninety six-year-old Dena Petryszyn was discovered by police on Wednesday at a run-down terrace house in South Hill Street, Glodwick. An inquest was due to open today.

Mrs Petryszyn had lived at the address with her son Michael. Neighbours raised the alarm when the Italian-born widow hadn’t been seen for months.

Michael, in his early 60s, was arrested after the discovery of the body on suspicion of failure to report a death. He has been released on bail.

Paul Cassidy, director of adults and children’s services, said: “Oldham Council social workers visited an address on April 30 after being contacted by a member of the public. At this stage our records don’t show that social services had any prior contact with this family. We are part of a multi-agency group now assisting police.”

A police spokesman confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.