HOUSTON – The body of a local mother was discovered at an apartment complex in southwest Houston.
Family members went to Regal Point Apartment complex in the Westbury area after not hearing from the victim.
"The family members entered, and went into the bedroom and found what appeared to be a body wrapped in a comforter," said Officer Travis Miller, with the Houston Police Department.
Police said she never returned to pick up her children, so her family wanted to check on her.
"When they got [there], they knocked on the door. The husband opened [it], and a putrid smell came out of the apartment," Miller said.
The family called the Houston Fire Department, which confirmed the woman was deceased and had been for several hours. The primary cause of death was asphyxia with neck compression, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
A pastor who lives in the neighborhood said something needs to change. She said she has seen too many lives lost recently.
"It concerns me that someone could be in there that long and no one not know until they smelled something," said pastor Mellanie Scales. "My prayer is that we can all come together and unite like it used to be where everybody was concerned."
No charges have been filed in the case. Investigators are waiting on the completion of the autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. The autopsy will help determine when and how the mother of two died.
The identity of the mother has not yet been released.
Investigators told Local 2 there were no obvious signs of a struggle inside the apartment, but the victim's husband was questioned as a person of interest in the case.