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May 26, 2012

Woman watched TV for 35 years ... while dead

by Jane Boursaw, posted Jun 20th 2008 9:03AM

skeleton on couchHere's a story that sounds like something out of The Twilight Zone. The episode could be titled "No Man Is an Island?" Or maybe "Perchance to Dream," although that title was already taken.

It's the story of Hedviga Golik, a woman who brewed herself a cup of tea, then settled down to watch some relaxing TV in her hometown of Zagreb, Croatia. Apparently, the show was either really boring or the tea was ultra-relaxing, because Golik died that same night.

Okay, all this sounds plausible, but not this next part: According to an Associated Press report, forensics experts believe Golik likely died in 1973. Her mummified body was just found, 35 years later.

Police said Friday that no one ever reported Golik missing, and no one has come to claim her body. Residents of her loft building in downtown Zagreb had broken into her flat after deciding the apartment should belong to them. Startled by the remains (I can imagine), they called the police.

Expert Davor Strinovic said Golik seemed to have died of natural causes, but "it's almost impossible to say for certain" after so much time. Some of her neighbors claimed she had talked about going abroad.

Like me, you're probably wondering a few things:
  • Did no one smell the decaying body? Apparently not. Experts said her windows had been open, likely diminishing the stench. (But they were open for 35 years?)
  • Who was paying her bills all that time? That's still unclear, as is the identity of the apartment's owner. In the 1970's, when Golik allegedly died, apartments were state-owned.
  • What show was she watching when she died? Well, given the year, it's possible she was watching an episode of The Twilight Zone. Hey, those shows can be pretty terrifying. I'm betting it was "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." Certainly scared the crap out of me.
  • What will happen to the apartment now? The remaining tenants (still living, to my knowledge) argue that the apartment should be divided among them. Really? They're that hard up for housing?
And of course, the big question: Is the human race becoming so isolated that no one notices a dead neighbor after 35 years? In Croatia, that certainly appears to be true.

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Fred

A disturbing story, likely untrue, that doesn't seem to have any connection to television at all. But thanks anyway! :)

June 20 2008 at 11:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Edd

This was in The Sun (UK) on about May 16 as well, where they said she was EXACTLY 42 and shoe had died EXACTLY 42 years ago... I love being a journo! Actually, she was 68 and she'd been there 132 years - it's true, I just made it up.

June 20 2008 at 10:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
deebopalula

Sounds like an urban legend in the making.....

June 20 2008 at 2:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bananas

eminent domain (not imminent, although I am intrigued by that doctrine) doesn't apply here if the rules in Croatia are anything like the American Law def'n. They would have had to have "actual" presence in the apartment - which clearly they didn't, what with the dead body being a surprise and all.

Maybe they're pirates.

June 20 2008 at 1:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mandy

It's hard to find any two news sources that have the same story. She was dead 35 years or 42 years; she died in her bed or died in her chair; neighbors found her when they wanted her apartment or the cops found her when they were trying to determine who owned the apartment; she was reported missing or she wasn't.

This story has already been circulating for over a month. I would think that news sources could have gotten their stories straight by now.

June 20 2008 at 1:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
StillBash

Ok is it just me or does NO SOURCE AT ALL state that she was watching TV?

Could somebody PLEASE post the original AP press release and highlight the word "TV" in there?

I mean seriously Jane, you quoted all facts from the CNN page and nowhere on there does it say that she sat in front of the TV.

Even more it said she laid in bed. Dead.

June 20 2008 at 12:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to StillBash's comment
Bo3b

Well first of all...this story is well over a month old. Not surprising with what's going on over here.

Here's a link to the original CNN story...from May 16th:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/16/croatia.body.ap/

June 20 2008 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laura

good point capt obvious - imminent domain also comes to mind.

June 20 2008 at 11:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kellie

Hear hear, Capt. Obvious.

June 20 2008 at 11:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
riki

"Residents of her loft building in downtown Zagreb had broken into her flat after deciding the apartment should belong to them."

That part is also pretty disturbing. They just "decided" they wanted her apartment and broke into it...makes you wonder and think God bless America!

June 20 2008 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to riki's comment
Gudlyf

As the apartment building tenants argue over how to divide the new space, one could be heard saying "I call dibs on the part that doesn't smell like mummies!"

(Stole that from Digg)

June 20 2008 at 9:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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