The death of a 70-year-old woman who was found in a garbage bag at a New York City apartment building this week has led to one of her relatives being criminally charged, WABC-TV reports.
Investigators say the woman who died, 70-year-old Margie Ann William-Collins, was visiting family members from Georgia when she died in the luxury Bronx apartment 322 Grand Concourse.
Authorities allege that one of her family members, 53-year-old Inga Bearden, placed her body in a black garbage bag with the help of her husband because of concerns that she had lice, according to the New York Post.
Bearden, who reportedly did not call 911, faces a charge of concealment of a corpse, according to News12.
It was William-Collins’ daughter-in-law who discovered the body and called police, according to the Post.
Neighbor Juan Muneton told the New York Daily News that he had seen William-Collins previously in the building.
“I saw her once,” Muneton told the newspaper. “My neighbor told me it was her. She lives on the third floor. She said ‘hi, have a good day,’ that’s it. She seemed normal, she seemed OK.”
What led to her death remains under investigation and there were no visible signs of trauma. Bearden alleged that Williams-Collins would eat silica gel packets like those found in new shoes.
A neighbor told the television station she heard screams coming from the apartment.
“Like the way she was screaming . . . something was wrong like someone was injured or dying so I feel like I had to call police,” Alyssa Thurlby told WABC-TV. “I feel sorry for their family because that’s not right.”
Police are searching for Bearden’s husband.
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
