A grief-stricken son is facing jail after it was discovered he had dug up his late mother's body and kept her on his sofa.
Police found the woman's "mummified" remains inside the home of the man named only as Marian L in Radlin, Poland, after his estranged brother-in-law raised concerns about his health.
A search of the 76-year-old's home found the remains of his mother propped up on a sofa atop a pile of newspapers dating from 2009.
The elderly woman had passed away and was buried more than 13 years ago, prosecutors said.
Małgorzata Koniarska, a spokeswoman for local police, said: "We received a report in connection with the disclosure of the body from a family member of the owner of the apartment.
"The policemen went to Ul. Rogozina in Radlin. In the part of the house belonging to an elderly man, a mummified corpse was discovered."
Joanna Smorczewska from the District Prosecutor's Office said: "According to the DNA content, the mummified corpse is that of a woman, Jadwiga L., who died in January 2010, and thus Marian L.'s mother.
"It was established that the grave of Jadwiga L., where she was buried on January 16, 2010, remains empty.
"It is likely that the man dug up the mother's body immediately after its burial and then mummified it and the body has remained in this house since 2010."
Marian L is believed to have exhumed the body himself before transporting her back to his home, which is just 300m from the cemetery where she had been laid to rest, before using chemicals to preserve her body.
Despite having been buried more than 13 years ago, officials said her remains had been in "perfect condition".
Marcin Felsztyński, Head of the District Prosecutor's Office, said: "Everything indicates that the man must have used some chemicals to mummify the corpse.
"The smell of mothballs was noticeable."
It's understood the woman will now be laid back to rest after the discovery in February.
