DAYTON, Ohio (CNN) – An adventurous 12-year-old came across quite the surprise when he entered an abandoned home: a mummified corpse hanging by the neck in a closet.
Officials have identified the Edward Brunton. He hanged himself five years ago in a closet, and the closet shielded his body from rapid decomposition, animals and insects, which is why the body was preserved in a mummy-like state.
Neighbors never knew anyone actually lived there, and Brunton was estranged from friends and family, which is why he was never reported missing. Authorities determined who he was by identification found on the body, which was later confirmed by an estranged brother.