Police responding to a call of burst water pipes in a Hampton Bays home made a bizarre discovery when they found the body of a man who had been dead for more than a year.

Police say they found the mummified body of homeowner Vincenzo Ricardo, sitting in a chair in front of a television, which was still on. The Suffolk County medical examiner says it appears the 70-year-old widower died of natural causes and his body was mummified because of the lack of humidity in his house. County officials say they do not currently have any information about Ricardo's next of kin.

Neighbors say they thought Ricardo was in a nursing home. However, there were signs something was terribly wrong, including mail piling up in his mailbox. Residents say Ricardo's death is a painful reminder of the importance of checking on neighbors, especially the elderly.