Autistic boy found dead in room after several days

KUANTAN - The body of a 15-year-old boy with disabilities who is believed to have died a few days ago was found in a room in his family's home in Kampung Padang Tenggala, Temerloh last Tuesday.

The incident was noticed by his 17-year-old brother at about 10.30pm after seeing the teenager lying stiffly in the room.

Pahang Police Chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the incident was reported to their grandmother before the elderly contacted her niece (complainant) to check on the victim.

He said the 60-year-old complainant who went to the house detected a foul smell and went to the police station to make a report.

"Following the report, a check was carried out leading to the discovery of the teenager's body.

"Investigation found that the boy was diagnosed with autism and was put in an unlocked room by his mother because of his aggressive behaviour.

"The victim lived with his 44-year-old mother, brother and a younger brother in the house after the death of his father last May," he said.

Yahaya said, their lives were believed to be unmanageable after the death of the head of the family.

"It is understood that their mother has been suffering emotional stress since the death of her husband but was not referred to the hospital for treatment," he said.

He said the victim's body was sent to the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HoSHAH) Temerloh for the post-mortem process.

"So far the case is being investigated as a sudden death, however the police are waiting for the autopsy report to identify the cause of the victim's death for further action," he said.