SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Mystery over 63-year-old US twins' death

Authorities have identified the bodies of reclusive 63-year-old US twins found dead in their home but can't say why they died about three years ago.

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Autopsies have helped identify reclusive 63-year-old twin brothers who were found dead in their US home.

But the Tennessee medical examiner still hasn't been able to resolve the mystery of what happened to the brothers and how their bodies could have remained in the home for about three years without anyone noticing.

Police found the skeletal remains of Andrew and Anthony Johnson sitting in their recliners in a living room in their Tennessee home on Saturday. The conditions of the bodies suggested that both men had been dead since 2011.

After the autopsies, investigators still believe the brothers have been dead for about three years. There were no signs of trauma or anything to indicate the two were victims of homicide, but investigators are waiting for the results of toxicology tests to come back, Chattanooga Police Sergeant Wayne Jefferson said.

"Right now there is nothing to indicate that they died of anything outside of natural causes," Jefferson said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

He cautioned that results of blood tests that come in later could tell a different story.

The neighbours, according to police, had no idea anything was wrong because there was no odour coming out of the house. The brothers lived like hermits and had little contact with family or anyone else. Jefferson said he believed that somebody continued to mow the brothers' lawn all those years.

Police had actually gone to the home back in 2011 after family members became concerned because they hadn't seen the brothers. The house, according to police, appeared to be vacant, and a note inside the mailbox indicated that mail delivery had stopped because the postal service thought the Johnson brothers had moved.

Family members who had a key to the home called police on Saturday and asked officers to go inside and check the house. Police discovered the bodies after getting permission to open the door.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world