Woman’s Body Found Seated In Her Home Two Years After She Died

Firefighters made a tragic discovery when they found the decomposing body of a woman who had passed away alone in her home over two years prior.

Marinella Beretta, a 70-year-old resident of Lake Como, was last seen by her neighbors in September 2019.

She lived by herself in a house near the picturesque lake in Lombardy, northern Italy. 

Marina Beretta lived near Lake Como Getty Stock Images/ Feng Wei Photography

After their last sighting, her neighbors assumed she had moved away or gone to stay with someone around the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

Sadly, as they learned later, this wasn’t the case.

When the fire brigade in Como received reports of a tree in Beretta’s garden falling and concerns about other trees becoming a hazard in the strong winds, firefighters and police decided to visit her property on February 4, 2022, to check things out.

Once there, they made the heartbreaking discovery of Beretta’s remains inside her home.

According to Francesca Manfredi, the press officer for Como City Hall, Beretta’s body was found seated in a chair in her living room. 

CNN affiliate SkyTg24 later confirmed these details, adding to the sadness of the discovery.

Upon examination, the medical examiner concluded that she had likely passed away sometime in late 2019, judging by the condition of her remains.

After investigating, police found no signs of foul play or anything suspicious in her death, as reported by Sky News at the time.

The story of Marinella Beretta’s lonely passing sparked discussions across Italy about the need for stronger community care for elderly people, particularly those living alone.

Family and equal opportunities minister Elena Bonetti expressed the emotional impact of her story, describing the 'forgotten loneliness' Beretta experienced as something that 'hurts consciences'.

In a heartfelt post on Facebook, she shared her thoughts (translated): "Remembering her life is the duty of a community that wants to stick together... Taking care of each other is the experience of families, institutions, and our citizens. No one has to be left alone."

Elena Bonetti pays tribute to Marinella Beretta Elena Bonetti/Facebook

Como’s mayor, Mario Landriscina, reached out to local residents, inviting them to attend Beretta’s funeral as a way to honor her memory and reflect on her story.

He said, "It is a tragedy that occurred in a context complicated by the pandemic, from a closed and isolated city.

"Who knows how much this woman suffered. Now is the time to give witness and I invite the city to be present."

Landriscina also shared that the city government would arrange the funeral services, adding that he hoped to attend personally.

He further remarked, "This is the moment to be together, and even if this woman had no relatives, we could become her relatives."