A group of seven burglars are facing charges for squatting in and looting the home of a deceased man in Georgia. The victim, 71-year-old Robert Westbrook, was found dead in his bathtub in Smyrna, Georgia, by Cobb County Police during a wellness check in early October, as reported by WANF.
According to Detective Daniel Goduto, Westbrook’s body was in a state of severe decomposition, referred to as mummification. Detectives determined that Westbrook had died of natural causes and his body had been in the bathtub for approximately three months. During this time, evidence suggested that someone else had been living in the home alongside Westbrook’s remains.
The residence had been ransacked, with drawers overturned and the master bedroom in disarray. However, there were also signs that someone had been regularly taking out the trash and living in the house. When police received a call from a neighbor reporting suspicious activity on Westbrook’s property, they discovered four suspects attempting to steal his belongings, including money, electronics, and his car.
The suspects were found with Westbrook’s credit cards and checks, and police were able to recover his stolen car at a nearby gas station. All seven suspects knew each other, with some having previous criminal records in Cobb County.
Despite the shocking incident, unsuspecting neighbors were unaware of Westbrook’s death and the activities of the squatters. The overgrown vegetation outside Westbrook’s home made it appear abandoned, potentially attracting the burglars.
Detective Goduto urged the public to check on elderly neighbors and be alert to signs of neglect or abandonment to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
