12-Year-Old Boy Discovers Something While Exploring an Abandoned House That Had His Mom Immediately Dialing 911

An adventurous 12-year-old Ohio boy may have got more than he bargained for over the weekend when he stumbled upon a terrifying scene while exploring an abandoned house.

A boy found a mummified body in an abandoned Ohio home Sunday. (Image source: Screen grab via CNN)

Authorities said the child found a mummified corpse hanging in the cupboard of a Dayton home on Sunday, CNN reported. The corpse appeared to have been there for five years.

Ken Betz, the director of the Montgomery County Coroner's office, said neighbors had assumed the home was vacant before the boy made the discovery. The front door was covered with citations for an overgrown yard, and no one was ever seen leaving or entering the home.

"This is kind of like the perfect storm in the sense that neighbors were unaware, he just purchased the home, he was a street guy," Betz said.

But inside was the body of Edward Brunton, 53, hanging by the neck. Authorities believe his death was a suicide, the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin reported.

"I've been around a long time, but this is the first time we've had (a mummified body) indoors for that many years," Betz said.

The boy's mother was also stunned by the discovery.

"My son came home and said he had gone into an abandoned house and he found a body. And I said, 'Wait, what?" his mother Michelle McGrath told WHIO-TV.

As soon as she went to investigate, she knew her son wasn't exaggerating. She then dialed 911.

"When I crossed the threshold of the room, is when I smelled it," McGrath said.

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