When Uroy Parry's father returned home in Wilberforce district, St Ann, he noticed a foul odour. He had no idea however, that the odour was coming from the decomposing body of his son, who had apparently been dead for at least two days, inside.

The grim discovery was not made until the following morning, when, concerned about the stench, Parry and a neighbour went in search of its origin. What they saw was shocking. The body of the 37-year-old man was discovered, slumped on his bed. Though it is suspected that he died from a heart attack, possibly caused by a pre-existing condition, an autopsy is to be carried out soon.

left early

One of Parry's cousins told THE STAR that the man's body was discovered two Thursdays ago, and he was alive up to the Monday of that week. He said: "He lives with his father and older brother, but his father was not there at the time." He said Parry would often leave early in the mornings for work and so when no one saw him for a few days, they simply thought he had left early and, perhaps returned home late at nights.

He said: "His father said when he came home the Wednesday, he smelled a stench, but him neva pay it much attention. So the Thursday now, him and a neighbour decide fi check it out." THE STAR was told that a neighbour had borrowed a movie from Parry, and when he tried to return it, he got no answer at the home.

When the neighbour and Parry's father walked around the house searching for the source of the odour, they realised it was extremely strong at Parry's window. THE STAR was told that when they knocked the window, flies came up. It was then that they realised that something was dreadfully wrong.

The cousin told THE STAR, "When they broke off the door, they saw him in his bed, like he was watching TV, and you could see like di phone jus drop outta him hand."

The police were contacted and the body was removed from the home. The Brown's Town police confirmed knowledge of the incident.

Parry's relative told THE STAR that the incident has been the talk of the neighbourhood, who are in awe of the fact that a dead body could go unnoticed for so long. He also said relatives who flew to Jamaica for the funeral have since gone back home, upon hearing that they will have to wait until the post-mortem is complete before burying him.