A 12-year-old boy’s world was turned upside down when a grim discovery was made just steps from his home. For over two years, Sheila Seleoane, 58, lay deceased in her London apartment, unnoticed despite mounting signs and desperate complaints from neighbors.
Sheila, a medical receptionist, passed away in August 2019, but it wasn’t until February 2022 that her skeletal remains were found. For young Chialuzue, who lived just down the hall, the shocking revelation has left deep scars.
“Since the police came and broke down the door, I’ve been too scared to sleep alone,” Chialuzue shared with the BBC. “I sleep with my mum now because I don’t want to be reminded of what happened. Even going home feels overwhelming.”
The boy’s fears have followed him to school, affecting his focus during crucial exams. “Every time I sit down to take an assessment, the memory of it all just pulls me down,” he admitted.
Neighbors had been raising alarms for years. Complaints of maggots invading apartments, a stomach-turning stench, and other eerie signs were reported to the housing association, Peabody, but no action was taken.
Chantel, who lived directly below Sheila’s flat, described the ordeal as “like living in a horror movie.” Maggots fell from her ceiling as she changed light bulbs. Over time, they spread through her apartment. Audrey, another neighbor, recalled returning from a work trip to an elevator reeking of decay.
Residents resorted to desperate measures, stuffing towels under their doors to block out the smell. Despite their pleas, no one investigated the apartment until police finally broke in. What they found shocked everyone: Sheila’s body, dressed in blue pajama bottoms and a white shirt, had been there for over two years.
Peabody has since apologized, stating, “We’re devastated that this happened. We must and will learn from this to ensure it never happens again.”
For Chialuzue, the damage has already been done. The once-ordinary apartment building is now a place he dreads. His story highlights not just the tragedy of Sheila’s death but also the failures that allowed it to go unnoticed for so long.
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