Austrian authorities have discovered the remains of an elderly woman walled up inside a cellar in Münchendorf after a friend attempted to visit her for her upcoming hundredth birthday.
Discovery at the Residence
The case came to light last Thursday when a friend arrived at the home of Edith S. to offer birthday wishes. Upon receiving no response, he alerted the authorities. Police tracking dogs eventually signaled toward a wall near the cellar entrance.
Forensic Findings and Background
The body of the elderly woman was discovered entombed within the wall, where it had remained for at least several years. Preliminary autopsy results have not indicated that the woman was a victim of homicide. She was a resident of Vienna, and the Münchendorf property served as her second home.
Neighbor Testimony and Ongoing Investigation
One neighbor reported to the German newspaper “Bild” that he had not seen Edith in six years. He noted that her son would visit periodically to mow the lawn, claiming his mother was living in a care facility in Vienna.
Potential Financial Motives
Investigators are seeking to question the woman’s son, who is currently reported to be abroad. The prosecutor’s office suspects that the individual who concealed the body may have done so to continue collecting the woman’s pension.