In New Jersey, police were answering a call about a foul odor coming from a New Jersey apartment, when they found a 4-year-old boy inside with a decomposed female body.
On Tuesday, police discovered the door of the apartment, located seven miles southwest of Newark, slightly opened but secured with a chain lock.
DETAILS: Baby Survives After Mother Jumps Out of Window With Him
Once officers forced the door open, they found the malnourished four-year-old, who is believed to have been in the apartment alone for about 5 or 6 days. The child told officers that there was plenty of food in the fridge, but he couldn’t reach the door.
He “appeared very malnourished but alert,” said a policeman in his statement.
The decomposed female body was found in a bedroom of the apartment. The boy had been trying to take care of the woman who has not yet been identified as his mother.
“He was…putting some type of lotion on her, but she was deceased. It’s very sad,” said Police Director Daniel Zieser.
VIDEO: 4 Women Found Shot to Death in Oklahoma Apartment
Her death appeared to be from natural causes, but investigations are underway.
Police are making attempts to reach family members of the boy.
