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A man, whose mummified body was found in a hoarder's house on Sydney's lower North Shore, sustained several injuries before his death, police have said.
- The badly decomposed body was found in the property's living room
- The male, in his 30s to 40s, sustained significant injuries before death
- Bruce Roberts, a reclusive hoarder, was the homeowner and died last year
- Police are expected to reveal the identity of the body later today
A post mortem was conducted on the body, which cleaners discovered under a pile of rubbish at the Greenwich property on Tuesday.
Today, New South Wales Police revealed the body was of a male, aged in his 30s or 40s.
Forensic police officers and sniffer dogs are scouring the house.
The ABC understands police are trying to contact the victim's family before they reveal his identity later today.
Acting Superintendent Simon Jones said the body was "not very pleasant for investigators".
It was found in a room at the property once belonging to Bruce Roberts, a man described as a hoarder and recluse.
He said the body was found with multiple injuries and that both men were known to police.
Mr Roberts died at the property in June last year, but police believe the body was hidden away sometime before his death.
Police are treating the death as suspicious but are yet to formally determine the cause of death.
"It is a mystery … and highly unusual," Acting Superintendent Jones said.
"We don't get many jobs that occur like this."
He said Mr Roberts was not a suspect "at this stage" and police were trying to determine the connection between the two men.
Neighbouring residents said he had very little to do with anyone on Greendale Street.
Bob and Gayle Meagher, who lived next door for 20 years, described Mr Roberts as a loner.
"It's creepy and sad. It's just awful that it's next door, very unpleasant," Mrs Meagher said.
Mr Roberts' parents had owned the property and he had lived there for 40 or 50 years, she said.
"He was paranoid about security around the home and had barbed wire," she said.
Topics: police, crime, law-crime-and-justice, greenwich-2065
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