Woman Kept Dead Boyfriend's Body Around For 18 Months

JACKSON (WWJ/AP) - Police say a woman kept the body of her dead boyfriend inside their southern Michigan house for more than a year.

Jackson police Lt. Chris Simpson says the body of 67-year-old Charles Zigler was discovered last week covered in a chair.

A medical examiner determined Zigler died of natural causes sometime around Christmas 2010 at age 67. Police went to Zigler's home Friday after a niece hadn't seen him for a long time.

Simpson said the woman, who lived with Zigler, knew he had died.  He said the body was mummified but would not talk further about the condition of the body.

Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950, Simpson said police believe Zigler died of natural causes, but are looking into whether his death was concealed for reasons of financial fraud.

"What we're looking at would be a felony but obviously we have to go back since 2010 in December to trace where it all began," Simpson  said.

The 71-year-old girlfriend has not been arrested.

Her name has not been released.

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