Foreclosure Auction Winner Discovers Remains of Former Owner's Family Inside Home

A person who purchased a foreclosed home at an auction in the United States discovered three sets of human remains, including those of the former owner's family, inside the house, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 20 (local time).

According to the Connecticut State Police, two of the three bodies have been identified as the former owner of the house and his son.

The identity of the remaining body is currently being verified through DNA testing.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the deaths, noting that it is unlikely the individuals were victims of a serial crime.

The former owner, who purchased the house in 2019, stopped making mortgage payments to the bank in late 2024.

Consequently, the bank initiated foreclosure proceedings on the property.

However, because local regulations allow former owners or tenants to continue residing in a home while foreclosure auction proceedings are underway, the property was auctioned without an interior inspection.

Participants in the auction held last month were only able to view the exterior of the house before bidding, and the property was ultimately sold to a new owner for $525,000 (approximately 780 million won).

Real estate industry experts explain that homes sold at foreclosure auctions are often left vacant for long periods, and because there is effectively no opportunity to inspect the interior beforehand, it is not uncommon for successful bidders to encounter unexpected situations inside the homes.

In fact, there was a case in Addison, Texas, last year where the body of a former homeowner was discovered after having been left inside for nine months following a foreclosure auction.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.