Goldsboro woman found dead in freezer ID'ed; daughter charged with concealing death

Goldsboro police on Friday identified a 75-year-old woman found dead in a freezer last week and charged her daughter with a felony for failing to report her death.

The body of Arma Ann Roush, a resident of 1723 B Holly St., was discovered Friday by a neighbor who had purchased the freezer for $30 at a yard sale held in May.

The freezer and Roush's body were sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office over the weekend, and an autopsy on her body listed her death as "unknown" with no apparent signs of foul play, police said. Roush's body was intact and not dismembered in any way.

Roush, who authorities say lived with her daughter, Marcella Jean Lee, was last seen alive in August 2015. Lee, 56, has been charged with a felony for failing to report her mother's death. On Friday, authorities were working to locate Lee, who was last seen in West Virginia.

Goldsboro police said they are continuing to investigate how Roush's body ended up in the freezer and if any other crimes have occurred since her death. More charges are expected in the case, authorities said Friday.

Don Peters, who lives nearby, said he would ask Lee about her mom, but her story constantly changed.

"First, it was she's in the hospital, then it was a rest home, then it was she was in a coma," he said.

Peters said he now believes the whole time Roush was likely dead.

The woman who purchased the freezer said the seller told her the items inside the freezer were for a Sunday school project and that the church would come pick them up. Three weeks after the purchase, no one had come for the items, so the woman, who wants to remain anonymous, opened the freezer and discovered Roush's remains.

"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.