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Frozen in Time: Woman Found Mummified After 40 Years
11 Jun
Summary
- Mummified remains discovered in a Zagreb apartment undisturbed for decades.
- Woman last seen in 1966, neighbors assumed she had moved away.
- Police found a scene 'frozen in time' with a teacup and TV.
In a discovery described as "frozen in time," Croatian police in 2008 found the mummified remains of Hedviga Golik within her Zagreb apartment. Golik, born in 1924, was last seen by neighbors in 1966, leading them to believe she had relocated. Her body was found in her armchair, a teacup nearby, in front of a television, indicating she had been preparing for a quiet evening.
The apartment remained undisturbed for over four decades, with no one realizing Hedviga had died there. A notice on her door, posted in 1998, may have deterred entry. Police were puzzled by how she remained undiscovered for so long, especially given the possibility of winter deaths reducing any odor.
Authorities believe Hedviga died of natural causes around 1966. She had resided in the attic apartment since 1961, which was bequeathed to her. While some remembered her as quiet, others described her as unpredictable. She had become estranged from relatives and relied on a neighbor for essential supplies, which were hoisted up in a bucket.
