NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk Police recently made a gruesome discovery in the Ocean View area of the city, finding two women dead inside a 19th Bay Street residence. Their cause of death is still undetermined, and residents in the area have other looming questions.
Norfolk Police responded to a home in the 9600 block of 19th Bay Street at around 9:40 p.m. Aug. 30 for the report of a check on the well-being call. When first responders arrived, they located two unresponsive women, and both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed the women were 69 and 70 years old. These are both considered to be undetermined death investigations.
Those who live in the neighborhood want to know what happened.
“I walked outside one day came home from work and I was like, ‘Dude, it smells like death outside, and the flies just kept coming and coming and coming,” said 19th Bay Street resident Greta Trittau.
That’s what residents on 19th Bay Street say they’ve been dealing with.
“Seriously shocked,” said nearby neighbor Darlene Artis. “I’m like, hold up, when did this happen? Where was I?”
Norfolk Police say they went to the home Aug. 30 for a welfare check. When first responders arrived, they found both bodies.
Neighbors believe they had been decomposing for a while, adding that furniture, which they believe came out of the residence, could prove that. They said the furniture has since been left in a driveway that neighbors share. One neighbor who has a toddler called it an unsightly scene.
“It’s in our parking lot,” James said. “We can’t even walk to our car without getting a nice whiff of it, and I got sick the other night just leaving the car to get to my house, so what is it doing to him.”
Neighbors said they’ve been in touch with Norfolk Fire-Rescue about removing the items.
“They’ve been really great telling us everything,” Tristan said, “and they’ve said there is nothing more they can do and that a hazmat team has to come and clear everything.”
10 On Your Side is working to learn more from Norfolk Fire-Rescue on the protocol for a situation such as the one in Ocean View.
The day after our report aired, we heard from Kelly Straub with the City of Norfolk who said it was the property management’s responsibility to get rid of the furniture. They requested a bulk trash pickup and since our coverage aired, waste management has responded to remove the items. Straub also confirmed an investigation determined there was no biohazard.
Norfolk Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official manner and cause of death for the women, and that there are no signs of foul play at this time.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.