'Wisconsin man's 'nearly skeletonized body' found in home 4 years after his suicide'

Wisconsin man's 'nearly skeletonized body' found in home 4 years after his suicide
Friends, relatives thought David Carter had moved away in 2007
By Michael Sheridan / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, February 6, 2012, 8:02 AM



David Carter, believed to have committed suicide in 2007, was found dead and decomposing in January 2012 in his West Allis, Wisconsin home.


A Wisconsin man everyone thought moved away in 2007 had actually killed himself, leaving his body to rot in his home for more than four years.

The shocking discovery of David Carter's remains came in January after his West Allis house was handed over to the city because of unpaid property taxes, according to the Journal Sentinel newspaper.

The 41-year-old's "nearly skeletonized body" was found on the second floor, according to the medical examiner's report. "A Smith & Wesson 9-mm. handgun was found lying on the decedent's chest," and an autopsy concluded he died from a gunshot wound to the head.

It is unclear exactly when Carter died, but it was likely in late 2007, which according to the Journal Sentinel is when he quit his job and told friends he was moving to New Mexico.

Carter may have been despondent at the time over a breakup with a girlfriend, according to CBS 58 News. The two had a daughter together, whom he hadn't seen since 2006.

"I knew he was alone and I wanted to talk to him," Theresa Bornheimer, an old friend of Carter's, told the local news station. "But I couldn't because of the fact that I never saw him at home."

Described as a generous man by friends and relatives, Carter had taken care of his mother for years before her death from cancer in 1997. He had no siblings, and never knew his father, the Journal Sentinel reported.

The city is expected to clean out the house and sell it. The money from the sale will likely go to the city, but could potentially be claimed by his daughter.

Bluesmama wrote:He has a daughter??? And she never checked up on him in all that time???

RedBedroom wrote:How could it be four years nobody noticed? He must have had a shit load in the bank and getting power and water taken out directly.

Tony Marino wrote:I would have liked it if they showed a pic of the body at least.

Cheaps wrote:

Why

How sad though, to go 4 years without anyone noticing your dead? Terrible.

Alan Smithee wrote:

Not necessarily. There was a story similar to this around here not that long ago except I think the person died of natural causes. I think the utility companies just turned everything off. There was talk about a law requiring some kind of check when bills go unpaid for a certain length of time. You'd think the city would have come knocking a lot sooner for unpaid taxes.