The discovery of two bodies in the city of Trofa, in Portugal, revealed that a daughter had lived with her mother’s corpse for more than a year, before her own death, possibly by suicide. The unusual case was reported by a local newspaper and caused great repercussion.
The remains were located by the Porto Judiciary Police (PJ), after authorities began a detailed investigation at the residence. The action was motivated by alerts from neighbors, who noticed the residents’ absence.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Adelaide Sousa, aged 87, died between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, after suffering a fall in the hallway of her home, close to the living room. The body remained in the same place, deteriorating until it turned into a skeleton.
Ângela Pinho, 62 years old, daughter of the elderly woman, lived with mental disorders and had a complicated relationship with Adelaide. She remained at the residence without seeking support, and her absence from local society was noticed by neighbors at the end of 2025, raising the possibility of suicide during this period. The episode highlights the fragility of social support networks and the importance of mental health care for individuals in vulnerable situations.
Angela’s body was found in an advanced state of decomposition, on a bed in one of the rooms of the house, a few meters from where her mother’s skeleton lay. Police have ruled out the possibility of murder in the case.
The absence of any activity in the residence began to arouse distrust among neighbors over time.
Residents of the region reported being surprised by the lack of movement, such as the absence of garbage on the street or the failure to collect the bread delivered. Neighbors also recalled that Angela gave different explanations about her mother’s whereabouts, sometimes saying that she was bedridden, sometimes that she had been taken to a nursing home.
A new complaint, made in April, led the Porto PJ Missing Persons Brigade to take over the case, resulting in the discovery of the two bodies. The situation generated great commotion and astonishment among neighbors, with one of them describing the scene as something unprecedented in his life experience.