A NEW homeowner has found a decomposing body in a bed after buying a house at auction a year after its former owner is believed to have died.
Kalina Poliana made the grim discovery after hiring a locksmith to open the door of the property, which had been left locked for months.
When she entered the bedroom, she spotted a figure lying beneath a blanket, surrounded by pillows, and initially thought someone was sleeping.
But after asking the locksmith to take a closer look, he discovered the decomposing remains of Marilene de Fatima, 53.
Kalina was so shaken by the gruesome find, that the locksmith had to call .
She said: “She had a blanket wrapped around her. When I saw her, it looked as though someone was lying asleep in the bed.”
Investigators believe Marilene may have been dead for almost a year, with her body going unnoticed despite neighbours reporting no suspicious smell.
Cops also discovered letters apparently left by the woman detailing her funeral arrangements, including the clothes she wanted to be buried in.
She had even claimed that her funeral arrangements had already been paid for.
The grim discovery was made in Patos de Minas, south-eastern , on Thursday, November 5.
Kalina had snapped up the apartment on October 9 after it was repossessed over unpaid mortgage instalments.
She was given permission to enter the property by Marilene’s son before hiring the locksmith.
Marilene’s family had lost contact with her in October 2025, when she was struggling financially after losing her job as a domestic worker.
Her brother said she had become depressed and feared losing her home over mounting debts.
Despite relatives offering financial help, she refused their assistance.
Marilene later told her family she was moving to Varjao de Minas to live with a new boyfriend before blocking their numbers.
Her relatives assumed she had moved away as she had previously cut contact for long periods.
Neighbours had also been told she was leaving, meaning nobody reported her missing.
Meanwhile, her apartment was repossessed and sold at auction without anyone inspecting the inside.
It remains unclear whether Marilene was still alive when the bank issued its repossession notices.
Kalina now wants to cancel the purchase after finding the body.
Her lawyer, Lahra Lopes, said the auction could be challenged if Marilene had already died when the bank attempted to notify her.
Police found no injuries on the remains and are investigating whether she died after overdosing on medication or ingesting poisonous substances.
Her family fears she may have taken her own life, although the cause of death remains unknown.
Biological samples have been sent for laboratory testing in Belo Horizonte.
Marilene’s brother said her son was devastated by the discovery.
He added: “It’s sad. Now we will find out what happened. Unfortunately, we didn’t realise in time. Now we have to move forward.”
Marilene was buried in Patos de Minas on Friday, November 6.
