The shocking case of a father and daughter found dead in a Sengkang HDB flat has raised many questions among residents. They are wondering how the seemingly healthy father died, whether the daughter stayed with his body for about a month and starved to death, and how the family lived such an isolated life.
The tragic discovery was made on Monday afternoon (October 6) in a unit on the eighth floor of Block 324D Sengkang East Way.
The father was found dead in the bedroom and had decomposed into a skeleton, while the daughter’s body was discovered near the main door in the living room.
The case came to light after blood-stained water started dripping from the ceiling of the unit below, forcing a 70-year-old woman to call her son to clean the foul-smelling mess. That led to the gruesome discovery inside the flat.
Based on neighbours’ observations and the state of the bodies, it is believed the father died first, and his daughter may have died about a month later.
The case has sparked intense discussion in the community. Many neighbours are puzzled as to why the daughter did not seek help after her father’s death.
Neighbour believes daughter may have had mental illness
When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited on Tuesday evening (October 7), a neighbour who did not wish to be named said the father and daughter usually kept their door locked and rarely spoke to anyone.
“Sometimes we would see them in the corridor, but they would quickly lower their heads and walk away. They were very mysterious,” the neighbour said.
She shared that the daughter was believed to have a mental illness, and the father was always the one going out to buy food. After the father’s death, the daughter might not have known how to seek help and could have died of starvation at home.
“I once saw the daughter walking while waving her arms in a strange manner. Her behaviour was a bit unusual. Whenever she went out, it was always with her father. She probably could not take care of herself and eventually starved to death at home,” the neighbour added.
Another neighbour, Madam Lin (70), said the family moved in more than 10 years ago. After the female homeowner passed away a few years ago, only the father and daughter were left living together.
“The father looked quite healthy, and I would sometimes see him going out. I was shocked to hear that he had decomposed into a skeleton. I don’t know how he died,” she said.
Some residents said the daughter was believed to have moved from China to Singapore many years ago and later became a permanent resident.
Neighbours also noted that they rarely saw any relatives or friends visiting the home, and the family seemed completely cut off from the outside world. Now that all three members of the family are gone, many residents expressed sadness and pity.
