The decomposed remains of 75-year-old Mr Xu Baolu and his 47-year-old daughter, Ms Xu Na, were found in their Sengkang HDB flat in Block 324D on October 6, 2025, after neighbours complained of a foul smell coming from the unit [1, 2].
Mr Xu's skeletal remains were discovered on a bed, while his daughter's body weighed about 24 kilograms and was also highly decomposed, preventing authorities from determining their exact causes of death [1, 2]. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda ruled out foul play after the post-mortem, stating, "There was no suspicion of foul play. Their bodies were so decomposed that the cause of death could not be determined" [2].
Neighbours recalled Mr Xu as socially awkward and reclusive, often avoiding eye contact and not responding to greetings [1, 2]. He was devoted to caring for his mentally ill daughter, who suffered from severe psychiatric issues, including psychosis [1, 2]. Experts believe Ms Xu likely died of malnutrition following her father’s death, suggesting she was unable to care for herself [1, 2].
The bodies went undiscovered until the town council acted on complaints about the foul odour, prompting a welfare check that led to the grim discovery [1, 2].
On May 15, 2026, nearly seven months after their deaths, the State Coroner delivered an open verdict confirming no foul play was involved [1, 2]. Authorities have not released further details or follow-up actions regarding the case.
