Police find 'mummified' body in bathtub during burglary call in Arizona
09/15/2022 11:28 am PDT
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (TCD) -- Police reportedly found a deceased body in the bathtub of a home while they were investigating a report of a woman burglarizing a house.
On Saturday, Sept. 10, at approximately 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Palm Avenue to a report of a burglary, the Bullhead City Police Department announced in a news release.
At the scene, police said 65-year-old Christine Walters was discovered in the home "rummaging through property." Investigators reportedly believe Walters made a forced entry into the residence.
According to police, Walters had also been to the home two days prior, on Sept. 8, and stole purses and clothing, which she tried to sell online.
During a search of the home, police said they found a deceased body — who police reportedly believe is the homeowner — "in a mummified state" inside the bathtub. Police do not know how long the body had been in the bathtub or home.
Neighbors reportedly told authorities they had not seen the homeowner in about a year and thought she had moved.
Detectives executed a search warrant for Walters’ home and vehicle, where they found multiple items belonging to the victim, "including her birth certificate, IRS paperwork, driver’s license, and credit cards," police said. Detectives also reportedly found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.
Walters was arrested and booked into the Mohave County Jail for two counts of burglary. According to police, additional charges for credit card theft, possession of dangerous drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia are possible.
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