JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --
Firefighters in hazardous-materials suits searched a Westside home full of rotting garbage to find the body of a woman who had not been seen in several days.
Jacksonville Fire-Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said rescuers were called to a home in the 7600 block of Crest Drive Tuesday night by the woman's family. The woman's Chihuahua roaming in the front yard was described as emaciated.
When firefighters forced their way inside, they found found piles of garbage up to 6 feet high.
Two police officers who searched the home shortly after 11 p.m. were overcome by fumes and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Francis called the odor "unbelievable; description cannot define."
Garbage can be seen stacked just inside the door of the home on Crest Drive.
An initial search of the house by police and rescuers with a K-9 search dog did not find the woman. Police and firefighters returned to the home Wednesday morning with cadaver dogs and protective equipment for a second search of the home.
Police identified the woman as 72-year-old Carina Decampo.
Family members said the woman was a recluse and that they would drop food off for her at the front door, but no one was allowed inside.
The case was turned over to homicide detectives. It was not known if Deocampo had any medical conditions or was taking any medication, but an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
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