BY CAROLINE SELLE — On the evening of June 24, Hyattsville police (HCPD) and the city’s volunteer fire department (HVFD) responded to a call at a home on the 3500 block of Madison St. in West Hyattsville. Inside the house, officials found two dead bodies.
“A family member was concerned, hadn’t heard from his mom or dad in about a week. He came over to check on their welfare and couldn’t get in,” said HCPD Lt. Chris Purvis. After trying the front and back doors, the son called for assistance. Police and firefighters responded, and once on scene, the fire department was able to gain entry.
Inside, Purvis said, “We found what we believed to be his mom and dad in the house, deceased.” He said the bodies will be assessed by the medical examiner to determine cause of death.
“It’s a hazmat situation at this point because there were maggots in the house and it looked like the bodies were decomposing,” Purvis said.
A bystander reported that an unusual, unpleasant smell was detectable Wednesday morning as a family member walked to the bus stop.
After officials removed both the front door and front windows in order to gain entry, some of the contents of the house were visible from the street.
It appeared to be a hoarding situation, Purvis said.
At approximately 9:30 p.m, HVFD firefighters emerged from the house in hazmat suits and hosed down in the middle of Madison St. in a makeshift decontamination station. Bystanders watched from front porches wearing face masks.
As of Tuesday, June 31, “It doesn’t look suspicious but we don’t know the cause yet,” Purvis said.
