Illinois Woman’s Body Found By Family Members A Year After Her Death

The body of an elderly woman in Makanda, Illinois, was found inside her home by her family members on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, she had been laying dead in her home for more than a year.

According to CBS 46, 63-year-old Sunantha K. Simmons was found in the garage of her home on Whippoorwill Lane. Family members had come over from Japan to visit with her for the holidays and came across the sad situation.

According to a neighbor, it was the stepdaughter of the woman who found her body in the home. The stepdaughter lies in Japan.

“She was a neighbor that I admired and I felt connected to her life,” said neighbor Dianna Kington. “”I felt for her loss and wish I could have helped her more.”

WBTV states that there is no evidence to indicate foul play was involved in the woman’s death. Jackson County Coroner Dr. Thomas Kupferer says that autopsy results show Simmons died of natural causes, and also that she had been dead for quite some time.

Simmons lived alone in her Illinois home, as neighbors stated her husband had died about 10 years ago. She was originally from Thailand, and taught English at a university in Thailand so students could have a second language.

While there has been no indication yet as to whether the woman died via old age or illness, some neighbors suspect that she was sick.

Neighbors said that since Simmons’ husband died a decade ago, they have often seen ambulances at her home a number of different times. They did not know the reasons why, but said that it happened often.

Police have not revealed any information as to why the family had no contact with the woman for a full year. It is understandable that she didn’t have many family visitors with them living so far away.

Still, the family has not released a statement as to why no one had actually spoken to her or reached out to her. Neighbors did say she kept to herself a good bit, but was always kind when they did see her.

There will be a graveside service held for Simmons on Tuesday, December 30, at 11:30 a.m. It will be held at Mound City National Cemetery. According to requests from the cemetery’s website, family and friends of Simmons have been asked to gather at the cemetery for any services.

[Image via Giacomo Luca – KFVS]