I found my husband’s body in the wardrobe eight months after he went missing – I thought he’d run off
A WOMAN has stumbled upon a grim scene when she found her husband's dead body in their wardrobe eight months after he was reported missing.
Illinois man Richard Maedge, 53, had been missing since April 2022, which sparked a major police probe.
Cops are believed to have searched the home he shared with his wife in Troy, US, at least twice before they found him.
In both searches, officers reported smelling a "sewer-like" smell inside the house.
It wasn't until December 11, eight months after Richard's disappearance, that Jennifer stumbled upon his body while looking for Christmas decorations.
According to a coroners' report, he died by suicide.
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The body was believed to be hanging in a rarely-visited, concealed storage area inside a closet in the bedroom.
By the time Richard's body was discovered it had begun decomposition and was mummified.
Police told local media that mummified bodies do not give off odours, which is why the man had gone undiscovered for so long.
Richard was first reported missing on April 27, 2022 after he told his wife he left early for work.
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When Jennifer got home, she noticed his car was parked outside their house.
Inside, she found his keys and wallet but he was nowhere to be seen.
Police were called to the home, who passed through to gather evidence and search for the man but to no avail.
A few months later, Jennifer called the cops again to report the original foul smell they noted had not disappeared.
They cops returned to the scene but were unable to locate Richard.
Eventually the fateful day came in December, when Jennifer began her Christmas decorations and stumbled upon his mummified body in the closet.
Following the grim discovery, Jennifer told Belleville News it came as a complete shock.
She said: "I decided to put the Christmas tree up and I was looking for a tote of Christmas ornaments and that's when I discovered him.
"Even though we didn't want the outcome that we had, it's still an outcome that we can put him to rest."
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Police said there was no foul play in Richard's death.
The coroner said: "There were no other injuries found during the autopsy examination or evidence found that would indicate anything nefarious regarding Mr Maedge's death."
