Missing 98-year-old’s body found hidden in closet of home—police are treating her death as ‘suspicious’: Report

Police say an elderly Ohio woman reported missing Monday has been found dead in a “hidden location” in her Wadsworth home.

WJW learned that Margaret Douglas’ body was found in a closet and that police are treating her death as suspicious. An out-of-town relative reportedly called local police after Douglas’ friends said they hadn’t heard from her since April 3.

The nonagenarian was last seen at her Wadsworth home on Thursday. In a Facebook post, local police instructed residents to “check your porches, under your decks, in garages or sheds, and any other place a person could easily hide.”

WPD is asking for the public's assistance to locate this missing female from the Portage Street area. If you live in…

Posted by Wadsworth Police Department on Monday, April 9, 2018

Officers didn’t find any evidence of foul play during an initial search of Douglas’ home, according to Cleveland.com. Investigators reportedly found her body during a second, more intensive search. WKYC reported that there were no signs of forced entry.

Relatives told the news station that Douglas was a widower and had no children. A nephew who lived in a neighboring town would check on her.

It’s not immediately known whether Douglas died from natural causes or fell victim to homicide. Police said her body has been taken to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

[Featured Image: Margaret Douglas/Wadsworth Police Department]