Police officers responding to a burglary found a mummified body in the bathtub of an Arizona home.
The body was found around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at a home on Palm Avenue after neighbors called police to report a possible burglary in progress, Bullhead City police said in a news release Thursday.
The neighbors told officers that they had not seen the homeowner, a 60-year-old woman, in about a year and had assumed she moved away.
Police believe the body is that of the homeowner, but they are awaiting confirmation from the medical examiner’s office, police said. It’s not clear how long the body has been in the home.
A cause of death is not clear, but the medical examiner’s office said foul play or criminal activity is not suspected, police said.
When officers got to the home, they found Christine Lee Walters, 65, inside rummaging through the property, the release states. Pry marks on the door indicated that Walters had forcibly entered the home.
Police learned that Walters had been to the home on Sept. 8 and removed purses, bags and clothing belonging to the homeowner. Walters planned to sell the items online, the release alleged.
She was arrested at the home and booked on two counts of burglary. It's not clear whether she has obtained an attorney.
Investigators obtained search warrants for Walter's residence and vehicle and found a birth certificate, tax documents, a driver's license and credit cards that belonged to the homeowner, police said.
They also found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. The police department has asked for additional charges to be filed in connection with the theft of the credit cards and drug possession.
Walters is alleged to have told police that she knew the homeowner but thought she had moved to Colorado. She said that she did not know a body was in the home and that she had permission to be at the residence, a police spokesperson said.
Police have not identified the homeowner, and they have not been able to locate any family or friends. The homeowner was never reported missing, the spokesperson said.