Shock twist in the case of a woman found dead, her flesh covered in feces and urine eaten by cockroaches

A HUSBAND charged after his wife was found with cockroaches feeding on her meat has died.

Janice Hawkins, 72, was found dead in March in an Alabama home that police said was covered in feces and urine.

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Walter Alfred Hawkins, 74, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, elder abuse and neglect.

Cops revealed Hawkins died of what appeared to be natural causes, WRBL reports.

Police said his charges were dropped.

Cops said the room where Janice’s body was found was cluttered and full of stray animals.

Police added they found her tied to a chair.

Valley Police Chief Mike Reynolds described the case as one of the most gruesome he had ever seen.

He said: “The smell of ammonia, the feces were on the floor, roaches all over this house and especially on the body itself.”

Coroners said her cause of death was “failure to thrive,” linked to complications from diabetes.

Officials said she weighed less than 100 pounds and was severely dehydrated.

The autopsy report said her eyes were sunken and her ribs were prominent.

Police said the last time she saw a doctor was in 2019.

And none of her medications have been refilled since 2018.

Reynolds revealed that police had previously been called to the home about 40 times.

Walter’s daughter Christy Lee Hawkins, 45, was arrested in May and charged with elder abuse and neglect.

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