A new homeowner in Burlington, Connecticut, found the skeletal remains of three people after buying a foreclosed home at auction, according to The Guardian. Connecticut State Police said troopers responded to the home at 7 Stanwich Lane on Sunday. The buyer had purchased the home “as is” through a foreclosure auction.
Police said the remains were found inside the structure after the new owner entered the property. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner hasn’t yet determined a cause of death. State police said the identities of the three people have not yet been confirmed.
However, police also said there was no indication of anything suspicious and no indication of any criminal aspect. Detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Unit are investigating the case. Police described it as an isolated incident and said there is no danger to the public.
The discovery has also raised questions about the foreclosure sale itself. According to CT Insider, the home was sold at auction on June 6 for $525,000. Christopher Thogmartin, the court-appointed attorney who handled the sale, has asked the court for direction on whether the discovery could affect the validity of the foreclosure judgment.
How the Burlington Home Ended Up at Auction
The Burlington home had been bought in 2019 and later entered foreclosure. According to court and property records, the foreclosure process began after the owners stopped making mortgage payments. The court approved the home for foreclosure later.
The auction was held on June 6, and the property was sold in “as is” condition. That meant the buyer was purchasing the home without the guarantees that usually come with a sale. According to The Guardian, bidders may not always get access to the inside of a home before a foreclosure auction. And it’s even less likely to happen if no one requests access.
Why the Remains Could Affect the Case
Thogmartin filed a motion asking the court for guidance after the remains were found. It said the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating they’d been inside the home for some time. It also raised the possibility that the discovery could affect the foreclosure judgment, depending on the identities of the deceased.
Thogmartin had also asked the court to consider returning the winning bidder’s $82,000 deposit if the auction and closing ended up being canceled. The identities and causes of death haven’t yet been released to the public as of this article’s publishing. State police said they’ll give additional updates once the manner of death is determined.