Woman charged in freezer remains case
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 18, 2016 12:19 AM
A woman was arrested Thursday in connection with the discovery of human remains in a chest freezer at 1723 B Holly St. May 27, according to a press release from the Goldsboro police department.
Marcella Jean Lee, 56 of 1721 B Holly St. was taken into custody on the outstanding charge of failure to report a death. The felony warrants were secured on June 2, and Ms. Lee was later arrested by the Carolina Beach Police Department and brought to Wayne County.
The remains were discovered in a freezer at 1723-B Holly St. after the woman who lived there purchased the freezer from her neighbor. Upon opening the freezer three weeks later, she discovered the remains of 75-year-old Arma Ann Roush, Ms. Lee's mother, who lived with Ms. Lee in the apartment next door.
An autopsy found no signs of foul play in Ms. Roush's death, and the body was intact and not dismembered in any way. This led to the case being investigated as a failure to report a death, which Ms. Lee was soon charged with.
Ms. Lee was placed under a $50,000 secured bond. Her first court appearance is set for Monday.