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Pizza Delivery Driver Tips Off Police About Decaying Body In N.H. Home

SALEM, N.H. (CBS) - Wearing protective clothing, investigators returned Thursday to the Salem, N.H. home where the decaying body of a woman in her 80s was found inside a day earlier, along with an immobile man who neighbors say is her son.

It had been several months since she was seen.

"I have no idea what transpired," said neighbor Pam Avallone. "I saw trash bags outside. I didn't know if they were cleaning. I wish I knew more."

Salem New Hampshire death investigation
New Hampshire authorities are investigating the "untimely death" of a woman inside this Salem, N.H. home. (WBZ-TV)

Investigators are calling it an untimely death.

Neighbors say the man in his 50s had to be taken out through the window and then brought to the hospital.

With shades drawn and windows closed, they did ask police in the past to do a well-being check.

"They did a wellness check, he answered the door and said everything was fine," said Avallone.

Salem N.H. death investigation
Investigators outside a home where the decaying body of an elderly woman was found. (WBZ-TV)

It was a tip from a pizza delivery driver that brought investigators to the Brookdale Road home.

He found it odd that he was asked to deliver the order through the front window with the homeowner unable to open the front door.

A strong odor at the home had been noticed by Shauna Casey, who delivered pizza and meal orders to the home on a weekly basis up until a couple of months ago.

Salem-New Hampshire death investigator
An investigator is seen inside the Salem, N.H. home where a woman was found dead. (WBZ-TV)

She never knew there was a second person in the home and is now disturbed someone had died.

"It was definitely rotting. Honestly, I never thought there was someone dead. I thought it was his legs because he has some condition going on with his legs," said Casey.

Investigators say it's unclear how long the body had been in the home.  For now, the death does not appear to be suspicious.

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