Dead wife left to decompose

Husband was 'terrified' of calling police

By TONY BLAIS, QMI Agency
Last Updated: March 19, 2010 6:05am

EDMONTON - An Edmonton man has admitted leaving his dead wife's decomposing body in their apartment for more than three months because he was "terrified" of calling police.

Walter Gladu-Chokopeu, 58, pleaded guilty Thursday in provincial court to an "unusual" charge of unlawfully failing to notify authorities of a body or human remains.

Court heard police were called to an apartment building near 106 Avenue and 105 Street on Jan. 9 in response to a "foul smell" emanating from a second-floor suite.

Officers then found the clothed and covered body of Joyce Gladu-Chokopeu -- Walter's wife of 23 years -- on a bedroom floor in "advanced stages of decomposition," said Crown prosecutor Marisa Anderson.

Police also found the window had been left open in the room, the heating vents were covered and there had been a towel placed across the gap under the bedroom door.

Gladu-Chokopeu was arrested and told police his wife had died on Oct. 29 and he "didn't know what to do with the body" because he was afraid he would be arrested for something and he couldn't afford to pay for a funeral.

Anderson said the bottle picker, a residential school survivor, told investigators he had found his wife slumped on the toilet after she had got up in the middle of the night and thought she had "simply passed out" due to her being on medication and them sharing 18 beer.

Gladu-Chokopeu said he put her on the bathroom floor, thinking she would come to in the morning, but when she didn't, he attributed it to her suffering epileptic seizures.

He then moved her to the bedroom floor and put a blanket on her, placing a pillow under her head, said Anderson.

The man eventually realized she was dead, but was "terrified" to call police, so he left the body in the bedroom, which he kept cool, and began sleeping on the couch.

Anderson said police noted Gladu-Chokopeu was "shocked" and "distraught" over his wife dying.

Court heard Joyce had been on AISH as a result of having a stroke in 1985 and received $1,200 a month. Their $780 rent was paid directly from the money, which was deposited in a joint account the couple had.

An autopsy on the body was performed and the cause of death was determined to be "inconclusive" due to the advanced decomposition, said Anderson.

Court heard police were called after the apartment building caretaker had received complaints about the odour from other tenants and a plumber working there.

He and the plumber went to the suite and when Gladu-Chokopeu opened the door, "the smell was very strong," and they were told Joyce was "very sick," said Anderson.

Court heard Gladu-Chokopeu, who walks with the help of a cane, was convicted of assaulting his wife in 2008, but police did not have any further contact with the couple regarding any domestic violence.

A pre-sentence report and psychiatric assessment were ordered and a sentencing hearing is set for June 8.

From: http://www.ottawasun.com/news/canada/2010/03/19/13285946.html