# Mummified Body Found In Front of TV Set **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315 "2006-01-10T15:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/1 "2006-01-10T15:28:38Z")
[What a way to go](http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/10/mummifed.body.ap/index.html) /QUOTE/: The mummified body of a woman who didn’t want to be buried was found in a chair in front of her television set 2 1/2 years after her death, authorities said. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/2 "2006-01-10T15:38:27Z")
I was wondering about the caregiver until the end of the article. I knew a funeral director who stored a dead body for two weeks without informing the family. The only daughter that used to visit had an overseas holiday booked when mum died. D told her to go on holidays, kept the body at the mortuary and rang everyone to tell them about mom’s death after the daughter had returned to Australia. As she figured no-one even thought to ask when mom had died, they just assumed it was the day before. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/3 "2006-01-10T15:56:32Z")
I would not be at all surprised if that happens to me. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/4 "2006-01-10T16:10:38Z")
You can have my remote when you pry it from my cold dead hand. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/5 "2006-01-10T16:17:00Z")
If I should go suddenly with no warning, this is how they’ll find the Bus Wife. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/6 "2006-01-10T16:19:41Z")
Wrong, wrong, WRONG! Dead bodies are suppose to go in the basement, or under the patio. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/7 "2006-01-10T16:20:04Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I would not be at all surprised if that happens to me. If it were a computer and not a TV, then me too. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/8 "2006-01-10T16:23:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > If it were a computer and not a TV, then me too. I should mention that her plugged in laptop will be sitting on her lap, open to her playing that infernal tossing the egg game, or Text Twist. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/9 "2006-01-10T16:29:17Z")
Holy crap, this is in my hometown! Poor little 3 year old. “Chelsea! Haven’t How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not supposed to play with the dead body?” I’m wondering if SS checks were involved… ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/10 "2006-01-10T16:52:10Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Wrong, wrong, WRONG! Dead bodies are suppose to go in the basement, or under the patio. Nobody told _me_… _Drags bodies out from attic_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/11 "2006-01-10T16:54:57Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > “Chelsea! Haven’t How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not supposed to play with the dead body?” [Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068370/). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/12 "2006-01-10T17:12:28Z")
Aaaaarrrrrrgh! After 15 years, I’d finally repressed the memory of [A Rose For Emily.](http://xroads.virginia.edu/~drbr/wf_rose.html) It just came whooshing back. Thanks. A. Lot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/13 "2006-01-10T19:26:57Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Wrong, wrong, WRONG! Dead bodies are suppose to go in the basement, or under the patio. No I’m affraid you’re wrong. They go in the chest freezer. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/14 "2006-01-10T19:57:55Z")
> [@indecisive1](#): > > No I’m affraid you’re wrong. They go in the chest freezer. Yes, but make sure you cut them into easy-to-use chunks _before_ freezing. That way you only thaw what you’re ready to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/15 "2006-01-10T20:29:53Z")
Paging the Donner party… ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/16 "2006-01-10T21:27:41Z")
But was the TV on? Was she watching CSI? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/17 "2006-01-10T22:20:36Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > If it were a computer and not a TV, then me too. I have a computer in front of my TV. I am doomed. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/18 "2006-01-10T22:29:34Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > Nobody told _me_… > > _Drags bodies out from attic_ I hate to mention it, but wasn’t Mrs. Bates upstairs? ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/19 "2006-01-11T05:01:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Painter’s delusion was reinforced by the belief that Pope’s nose and ears had decayed and then regenerated - an illusion that insect infestation can sometimes cause in dead bodies, Owens said I’m wondering about the mechanics of this part. What sort of insect infestation makes soft tissue decay and regenerate? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315/20 "2006-01-11T05:58:13Z")
Aiieee… _twitch_ My mother died in front of the TV set. She was declining due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and had already lost most of her muscle mass. She and my stepfather sat down one night to watch TV, and fell asleep. Only my stepfather woke up. Yes, she died at home, next to the one she loved (and he was amazing at taking care of her), but _still_, it freaks me out whenever I really think about it. _twitch_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mummified-body-found-in-front-of-tv-set/339315.md?page=2)