Serial 'hoarder’ found buried under piles of rubbish at home after four months

A four month search for a missing woman in the US had ended after she was found buried under piles of rubbish at her home. Billie Jean James was found by her husband who had been living in the same house as his wife’s corpse. He spotted one of her feet sticking out from underneath the mountain of rubbish and clutter that littered their Las Vegas home.

Police had searched the house several times while looking for the 67-year-old who was known to be a compulsive hoarder. Sniffer dogs had been sent into the property but were unable to locate the body amid floor to ceiling piles of clothes, rubbish, empty food boxes and other goods that Mrs James had stored. Officials believe rotting food and other pungent smells stopped the dogs from working properly.



“For our dogs to go through that house and not find something should be indicative of the tremendous environmental challenges they faced,” said Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell. Friends said Mrs James was compulsive hoarder who spent her weekends buying goods at car boot sales. She also frequented thrift shops and refused to allow anyone into her house because he was so ashamed of the mess.

Police said small pathways had been forged through the clutter to allow the couple to move around the house. Her husband Bill James, 68, first reported his wife missing in April. He feared she might have suffered a stroke and become disorientated.

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