Decomposed Body Found In Rogers Park Home
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The decomposed body of a man was found Tuesday in a Rogers Park home three years after his mother's body was found decomposing in the same residence.
Police entered the home on the 2000 block of West Morse Avenue on Tuesday afternoon and found the severely decomposed body of a man, according to police and a source. Neighbors had called Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) several times in the previous weeks to complain about a foul odor coming from the residence.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the body as that of 47-year-old Ronald Opilka Wednesday morning.
"It's just a very sad situation," Silverstein said Tuesday.
Three years ago, the badly decomposed body of Cecylia Opilka, 80, was found amid piles of garbage in the same home. She died from heart disease.
At the time, police described Cecylia Opilka and her son, Ronald Opilka, as hoarders.
Ronald Opilka, who lived with his mother, did not report her death, but he was not charged because he was mentally challenged, police said.
Kathy Cooke, a neighbor, said Tuesday that she had not seen Ronald Opilka for weeks.
Cooke said Ronald Opilka was extremely close to his mother and refused to accept that she was gone in 2011.
"They were always together," Cooke said. "He took care of her when she was very sick and he didn't accept her death. I'd say 'How's your mom doing, Ronny?' and he'd say 'She's doing fine, but she's not getting out any more.' But she was dead in there and he just didn't want to part with her."
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
