Son finds body of his mum

Mar 14 2008 by Emma Davison, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SON found the decomposed body of his elderly mother in her home, an inquest heard.

James Hanley made the shocking find when he visited his mum Elfreda Battye on September 26 last year.

The Huddersfield inquest heard that the 80-year-old widow, born in Poland, had lived alone at Roger Lane in Newsome for five years. Before her son discovered her, neighbours said they had not seen her since February.

Her body was badly decomposed when she was found, but her son identified her by the gold crucifix that she always wore.

Mr Hanley said that his mother had suffered a stroke in the past but had been ill very little and was very independent.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said that there was no evidence of an unnatural cause of death or that Mrs Battye died in suspicious circumstances. He recorded an open verdict.