Mossos d’Esquadra officers found the body of a 77-year-old man, dead for at least two years, inside a rundown house in Cabrera d’Anoia. His wife and daughter, who had not left the house since the pandemic began, were still living there.
Neighbors in the Can Formiga urbanization called for help after seeing no one from the house for years. The yard was overgrown and trash had piled up; the car outside never moved. They sometimes heard noises from inside. The prolonged silence, along with occasional signs of life, finally prompted them to call emergency services. AFP and other news sources reported that the lack of activity led police to check the house.
Inside, police found a 59-year-old woman and her 22-year-old daughter. Both said they had not left the house since the pandemic began. They relied on online shopping: delivery drivers left packages outside, and the women picked them up at night. The house was packed with boxes and showed clear signs of neglect and poor hygiene.
The 77-year-old man, whom the woman identified as her husband, was badly decomposed. She told police he died sitting on the sofa in 2024. They covered his body and left it in a separate room without reporting his death. Police said there were no clear signs of foul play, and the investigation remains open. Forensic tests are expected to provide further findings.
Both women were taken to hospital for medical and psychological checks. Mossos d’Esquadra are investigating how the man died and why the family remained shut in for so long. The case highlights how extreme isolation can lead to hidden tragedies, especially after the pandemic. The investigation is ongoing, and the circumstances raise concerns about isolation going unnoticed by neighbors or authorities.
