Two decomposed bodies found in former Rhode Island mayor Susan Menard's residence
WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND: Police discovered two dead bodies in the residence of a former mayor of Rhode Island. According to the Boston Globe, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates said that the department had been asked to check on the property's welfare on Monday, September 19. Around 4 pm, a neighbor called the police department to say that they had not seen the elderly couple who resided at the address in about a week and that the house was producing a bad smell.
The owner of the property is Susan Menard, one of the town's longest-serving mayors. According to city records, she served in that capacity from 1995 to 2009. When the responding officers arrived, they had to use force to enter the house. Once inside, they discovered a deceased couple, a male and a female. According to Oates, it was challenging for the authorities to confirm the suspects' names due to the amount of their decomposition.
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Police were unable to confirm whether the lady found in the house was Menard. Since the bodies were found, the former mayor has not made any statements in the media. Police discovered that all of the windows and doors were shut and that the couple's mail had been stacked in the mailbox, according to local broadcaster WPRI. According to law enforcement officials, they don't think anything illegal happened at the house. Oates told NBC News, “There’s no outward signs of any foul play or any type of a struggle. We’re aware that both of these individuals if they’re who we think they are, had medical issues that were pretty significant.”
The remains of the pair were delivered to a nearby medical examiner for identification and examination. Oates said to expect identifications sometime this week. With a population of roughly 40,000, Woonsocket is a small city in northern Rhode Island close to the Massachusetts state line.
Meanwhile, Robert Miller, the brother of Menard, passed away on Saturday, September 17, at the age of 81, according to an obituary that appeared in The Providence Journal on Monday, September 19. His funeral was scheduled for this Thursday, September 22. It is unclear if he is one of the victims found at Menard's home. The case is still under investigation, according to the police
Happening now: Police in #Woonsocket have a home on Marian Lane blocked off with yellow tape — where two bodies were found “severely decomposed” inside, according to the police chief. An investigation is now underway.
— Kayla Fish (@KaylaFishTV) September 19, 2022
Here’s what we know so far: https://t.co/fViC8274B2 @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/q2X2zQW3zn
A neighbor and local resident named Lorraine Tessier told local NBC station WJAR10 News, “I haven’t seen them in a while because my sister usually walks this all the time, and on occasion, I’d walk with her around the neighborhood and I haven’t seen them in a while. Didn’t anybody check on them? Grandchildren? Son? What happened?”