3 Bodies Found in Foreclosed Home Bought 'As-Is'

The winning bidder of a foreclosed Connecticut home got more than a fixer-upper: he found three sets of skeletal remains inside. State police say the buyer, who purchased the Burlington property "as is" at a June 6 auction and had not previously seen the interior, called authorities on June 14 after making the discovery, USA Today reports. The medical examiner has yet to identify the individuals or determine how or when they died. Detectives from the state police Western District Major Crime Unit are leading the investigation, but police say there's no sign of foul play or any criminal activity

Records show that the Stanwich Lane house, built in 2002, was bought by Paul Cash and Sally Anne Cash in 2019 and went into foreclosure last year, WFSB reports. Authorities have not confirmed whether the couple was among the three bodies found. Records also show that weeks before the bodies were found, the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department responded to a police report of a fire alarm going off at the property, reports NBC Connecticut. Firefighters said the home appeared to be vacant and there was no sign of fire or smoke. They said they left after they were unable to gain entry without damaging the property.

The court-appointed attorney who oversaw the sale says bidders' requests to see inside went unanswered, which he called "not unusual." In a court filing, Chris Thogmartin noted the bodies were in an "advanced state of decomposition." Call logs show that the fire department went to the property for three medical calls in late 2021 and a patient was taken to a hospital each time. Documents show that the house was put up for auction after the homeowners failed to appear at hearings. A neighbor tells NBC Connecticut that it was rare to see the couple outside. The neighbor says the driveway went unplowed during the winter and they tried knocking on the door to check on them, but there was no answer.