Woman found in NY home died in early '09

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Mar 17, 11:51 AM EDT

Police: Woman found in NY home died in early '09

CASTILE, N.Y. (AP) -- Authorities believe a 60-year-old widow had been dead for more than a year when deputies found her body inside her rural western New York home.

Foul play is not suspected in the death of Karen Bowles, who had at least two sisters in the area but was known to keep to herself, investigators said Wednesday.

Her body was found by Wyoming County sheriff's deputies March 2 after a couple interested in buying her town of Castile home reported they were unable to contact the owner.

"I think that's what people are thinking: How could somebody be unnoticed for that period of time?" Investigator Larry May said.

But the house, set about 400 feet back from the road with no nearby homes, would not have attracted suspicion, he said. There was unfinished construction and the driveway had not been plowed but a blanket of snow hid the untended lawn, he said.

Deputies and state police had checked on Bowles several times since her husband died in 2001, including twice when her mail was not picked up and once when she became stuck in a snowbank.

"When people have checked it out they found that she was OK," May said.

Bowles had refused medical treatment after getting stuck in a snowbank, despite neighbors' concerns she might have developed frostbite, he said. "She just didn't want to be bothered with neighbors or relatives," May said.

Bowles is believed to have died between Jan. 6 and Feb. 6, 2009. The utilities were shut off in March 2009 and Bowles had not picked up her mail in more than a year.

May declined to say why Bowles' sisters had not been in contact with her, saying their reasons were personal.

Autopsy results were pending.