Man Lived With Roommate's Corpse For A Month: Police

A man in Michigan allegedly failed to report his roommate's death and lived with the corpse for a month, according to police.

Oakland County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) detectives arrested Mark Alan Means, 58, after they found the body of Michael Leroy Wagner, 76, at a home in Caberfae Trail, near Detroit, on Tuesday.

Police arrived at the home to perform a welfare check and found Wagner's body in the bathtub when they eventually entered the home, according to Fox2.

Following an autopsy, it was determined Wagner suffered from underlying medical conditions and died of natural causes.

Officers later ruled out foul play and ruled the death was an accident due to a fall in the bathtub, according to the network. Authorities said Wagner had died between March 7 and March 10.

According to an OCSO booking report seen by Boston25 News: "Means could not say why he did not report the death but said he realized it was about time to report it to authorities."

Means, who had lived at the home since 2015, originally told deputies that Wagner had been asleep and "did not want to awaken him," according to Fox2.

Online booking records seen by Newsweek said Means was charged with obstructing/failure to report a crime on April 5.

The online document also said he is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $5,000 cash, surety or 10 percent bond.

Newsweek has contacted the OCSO for comment.

According to the Michigan state government, people should do a number of things when a person they know has died.

Immediately afterward, family and friends should be notified, arrangements should be made to care for minors and pets and make appointments to arrange the funeral or memorial service.

The Michigan government added: "Because each situation is unique, it is recommended you consult with a professional CPA and/ or attorney for specific assistance in processing an estate."

Newsweek has reported on numerous cases where dead bodies have been found in homes long after the person died.

Earlier this year, a man lived with his partner's dead body for three months before authorities in Italy made the discovery.

Italian officials said the 64-year-old man lived with the body of an 80-year-old French woman in a Rome apartment before police discovered the body on February 4.

The woman's body was discovered after she failed to attend a trial where she was due to testify, according to the newspaper Corriere della Citta.

Corriere della Citta reported the man had struggled with the grief of losing his partner and asked a magistrate for the right to attend her autopsy.