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Goldsboro woman finds body in freezer: 'I was just in shock'

The body of an elderly Goldsboro woman was found inside a chest freezer a neighbor said she purchased from a yard sale last month.

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GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The body of an elderly Goldsboro woman was found inside a chest freezer a neighbor said she purchased for $30 from a yard sale last month.

According to police, officers responded to 1723 Holly St. last week in reference to the discovery of possible human remains. When officers arrived, they found a woman's body in a freezer.

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the seller told her the items inside the freezer were for a Sunday school project and that the church would pick them up. She said three weeks later, no one had come by.

"Nothing was adding up, so I started to become suspicious about it," she said.

The freezer was plugged in and sitting in the woman's spare bedroom when she decided to open it. She said she saw a frozen foot.

"I was just in shock," she said. "I opened it up for a second time and my heart went into my throat. I ran out of the house and called 911."

She said she was overwhelmed when she made the call.

"I was hysterical at first, but after a while, after I was able to comprehend what was going on, I was able to calm down," she said.

The woman said she believes the remains belong to the mother of the person that sold her the freezer. She said she had not seen the elderly woman since the fall.

"The last time I saw the elderly woman I believe she had a stroke," she said.

The freezer and remains were sent to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy was conducted. Authorities say they have identified the victim but are withholding her identity until next of kin can be notified.

The medical examiner ruled the woman's death as natural with no signs of foul play. Authorities said the body was intact and was not dismembered.

"I think maybe the daughter was dependent on the mother's check and didn't know what else to do," she said.

Neighbors said the seller of the freezer moved to West Virginia.

Police were working to determine how the body got into the freezer and are investigating the crime as a felony concealing or failing to notify the death of a person.

No additional information was immediately available.

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