Body found at Sydney home that of man aged in his 30s or 40s

The backyard of a home where the mummified body of man ‘with injuries’ was found wrapped in carpet will be forensically dug up as part of a murder investigation.

Police began a methodical dig on Friday morning, with sniffer dogs present, after cleaners made the gruesome discovery of a body believed to be that of a man aged in his 30s or 40s, earlier this week.

Neighbours of the house at Greenwich, on Sydney’s lower north shore, revealed the home had been deserted since the owner’s son – who was aged in his early 60s -died a year ago. 

The Roberts family had owned the house for about 50 years, but it had been empty since Mrs Roberts died about 20 years ago.   

Police have dug up the backyard of a Sydney home where the body of a man, believed to be aged in his 30s or 40s, was found wrapped in carpet days earlier (pictured)

Police began a methodical dig on Friday morning after cleaners made the gruesome discovery at the house in Greenwich, on Sydney’s lower north shore, on Tuesday

Neighbours revealed the house had been deserted since Bruce Roberts, the owner's son, died a year ago

Neighbours revealed the house had been deserted since Bruce Roberts, the owner’s son, died a year ago

Edna Scott, who has lived across the road for 39 years, said the son Bruce Roberts, would visit the house from time to time.

Mrs Scott said Mr Roberts’ mental health declined following his mother’s death.

‘He was never very friendly but after she died he slowly became more and more reclusive and unkempt,’ Ms Scott said.

‘I would wave at him when I saw him in the street – he would just stick his head down and keep walking.’

Mrs Scott said the man never lived in the property – but would visit his mum often. 

‘When he was younger he would arrive on a motorbike, with a nice looking leather jacket and jeans.

Mr Roberts' mother died some 20 years ago, leaving him to check on the home from time to time

Mr Roberts’ mother died some 20 years ago, leaving him to check on the home from time to time

Police sniffer dogs arrive at the home in the leafy suburb of Greenwich, on Sydney's lower north shore

Police sniffer dogs arrive at the home in the leafy suburb of Greenwich, on Sydney’s lower north shore

'He was never very friendly but after she died he slowly became more and more reclusive and unkept,' neighbour Edna Scott said of Mr Roberts

‘He was never very friendly but after she died he slowly became more and more reclusive and unkept,’ neighbour Edna Scott said of Mr Roberts

 The body is believed to be that of a man aged in his 30s or 40s, police revealed on Friday

 The body is believed to be that of a man aged in his 30s or 40s, police revealed on Friday

The gruesome discovery came as a shock to those living on the leafy street

The gruesome discovery came as a shock to those living on the leafy street

‘He was always a very solid build – and would wave on occasion.

‘His mum was tall, well dressed, almost friendly – she wouldn’t stop and chat but would always smile and wave – and very old fashioned in her dress.

‘There was never any talk of a funeral when she died.

‘It was just the two of them I never saw anyone else come and go – and when she died he was the only visitor.

‘But he started letting himself go, he put on a lot of weight and didn’t look tidy.   

Acting Superintendent Simon Jones said the body was “not very pleasant for investigators”.

He said cleaners found the body in a room at the property which belonged to Mr Roberts, a known hoarder.

He said the body was found with multiple injuries, making it ‘highly suspicious’. 

Mr Roberts died at the property in June last year, but police believe the body was hidden away sometime before his death.  

Greendale Street, in Greenwich, where the body was found after almost a year 

Mrs Scott said she didn’t realise the home was used as a hoarder house.

‘The garden was always over grown but there wasn’t always a lot of stuff in the yard – but then I have never been inside.’

Police said a post mortem revealed the body  

As police sniffer dogs joined the search though the backyard of the Greendale St house, Mrs Scott said the police presence was unusual for the quiet suburb.

‘There are never police in this street, last time there was it was because he had died in his sleep,’ Mrs Scott said. 

‘All this business really has you wondering what the hell has happened in the house,’ she said.

The owners of the house, which is on Greendale Street, had organised for the property to be cleaned this week. The cleaning crew discovered the mummified corpse

Officers from North Shore Police Area Command (pictured) established a crime scene which is continuing to be forensically examined

Before the cleaners arrived to tidy up the home recently the great grandmother was preparing to call the council as the overgrowth was out of control.

‘A few years ago he put all the barbed wire up to stop the shrubs from growing – but it only slowed them down.’    

Local police are being assisted by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Local police are being assisted by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad. 

Police are urging anyone who may know the identity of the deceased, or who has information that may assist, to come forward.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers.



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