Body of Missing Retired Police Detective Discovered After Months

The remains of a retired police detective were uncovered in her Connecticut home, which had been overwhelmed by hoarding, nearly seven months after she was reported missing.

Mary Notarangelo, aged 73, was found deceased in February after a crew was called to her rural residence to clear away the garbage that had accumulated due to her hoarding tendencies, as reported by the Glastonbury Police Department.

Notarangelo had last been in contact with a friend on June 12, 2024, during which she mentioned experiencing severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Following her absence, the friend requested a welfare check about three weeks later.

On February 24, a crew from Environmental Services began the daunting task of removing the significant amount of garbage from her house. They eventually discovered Notarangelo’s skeletal remains beneath a large pile of debris after using equipment to excavate the area.

Authorities haven’t clarified why it took so long—over six months—to find her body, but they indicated that the overwhelming amount of trash in the home played a significant role. The situation inside her house was described by local police as the worst they had seen, complicating the search efforts.

During their investigation, officers noted finding cages filled with dead birds, live cats, and rats within the home.

Officer Anthony Longo described his visit to the property, stating, “As I walked inside, I observed more garbage, spider webs, and just piles everywhere. There wasn’t a clear pathway; the only way to navigate through the rooms was to climb over the trash.”

Authorities had initially searched her home around July 3, 2024, but were thwarted by the clutter. They even attempted to use a drone to assist in the search, but it, unfortunately, malfunctioned. Additional searches followed on several dates throughout July and November, all of which failed to yield any results.

“It’s heartbreaking and incredibly sad,” remarked Patti Steeles, a friend of Notarangelo and a former civilian employee at the Bridgeport Police Department. She reflected on Notarangelo’s quirky, kind personality.

Steeles shared that she had tried to talk to Notarangelo about her hoarding but that her friend was not open to discussing it. Notarangelo had a deep love for birds, reportedly keeping about 20 in her home alongside several cats and dogs.

Having worked with the Bridgeport police from 1985 until 1996, Notarangelo was promoted to detective in 1992 and became a sergeant a year later. She retired due to a disability following a car accident, according to Steeles.

The state medical examiner could not determine the cause of Notarangelo’s death, as her remains were reduced primarily to skeleton.

The Glastonbury Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the case.