The disturbing case unfolding in a New York courtroom has left even veteran investigators at a loss for words. Prosecutors say a 42-year-old man not only discovered his ex-girlfriend dead inside his apartment but chose to keep her body there — for years — continuing to live alongside her remains in what they describe as a “deeply warped state of grief and denial.”
The shocking revelations emerged during pre-trial testimony this week, where the court heard that neighbors had long suspected something was wrong but never imagined the extent of what was happening behind the locked door. According to police testimony, the woman, identified as 31-year-old Marissa Cole, was last seen alive in early 2021. Her disappearance was never formally reported, as friends believed she had moved out of the city to “start over.”
Authorities say they were first alerted to the situation after a maintenance worker entered the apartment to address a plumbing leak and noticed an overwhelming stench. The worker, speaking to local reporters under condition of anonymity, said he initially thought it was rotting food until he spotted what appeared to be human hair protruding from beneath a pile of blankets on the bed. He immediately called 911.
Responding officers described a scene so unsettling it prompted trauma counseling for some members of the force. “This was not just a body in a room,” one detective told journalists outside the courthouse. “It was a preserved environment, as if he was trying to keep her exactly as she had been the day she died.” Police allege the man, whose name is being withheld pending trial, admitted he had been aware she was dead the entire time but could not “bring himself to say goodbye.”
Prosecutors say the NY man kept his dead ex-girlfriend in his bed for years, “maintaining” her as if she was still alive. Unthinkable. #TrueCrime— NY Crime Watch (@NYCrimeWatch) August 9, 2025
Forensic experts testified that the woman’s body had undergone “unnatural preservation” due to a combination of low room temperature, constant dehumidification, and makeshift sealing methods. A coroner’s report obtained by investigative reporters confirmed the body showed signs of postmortem manipulation, including frequent repositioning to prevent collapse. While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, prosecutors said there was no immediate evidence of foul play in her passing — though they have not ruled out negligence.
Friends of Marissa recalled her relationship with the accused as “volatile but complicated,” telling one outlet that the two broke up several times before she moved into his apartment briefly in late 2020. “She was trying to figure things out, and he was someone she kept going back to,” said one friend. “But I never imagined it would end like this.”
According to court records, the man told investigators he came home one afternoon to find her unresponsive on the bed. Instead of calling for help, he claims he sat beside her for hours, hoping she would wake up. When she didn’t, he said he “couldn’t face the reality” and decided to keep her there, eventually building his daily life around her body.
Neighbors testified that the apartment began to emit an odd, pungent odor in early 2021, but they assumed it came from garbage or poor ventilation. One resident told local radio reporters that she often heard “muffled talking” through the walls, which she now believes was the man speaking to the corpse. “He’d greet me in the hallway like everything was normal,” she said. “You’d never think someone like that was living with something so horrific.”
Neighbor testimony in the NY corpse case is beyond chilling. “He talked to her every day,” one said. #CrimeNews— True Crime NYC (@TrueCrimeNYC) August 9, 2025
Prosecutors allege the man’s refusal to report her death was motivated by a mix of fear, possessiveness, and psychological instability. “We are not looking at a simple case of grief,” the assistant district attorney told the court. “We are looking at someone who took deliberate steps to maintain control over a deceased person, denying her dignity and denying her loved ones closure.”
When officers searched the apartment, they discovered personal items meticulously arranged around the body: her phone, still charged and displaying old text messages; her favorite mug, filled with dried flowers; and several photographs taped to the walls above the bed. Detectives told reporters at the scene that the room appeared frozen in time, “like a shrine no one was meant to see.”
The defense is expected to argue that the man suffers from severe mental illness, including a dissociative disorder that left him incapable of processing her death in a healthy way. His attorney has already filed motions for psychiatric evaluation, citing similar cases where defendants avoided prison time due to diminished capacity. One high-profile example is the Florida man found living with his mother’s corpse for over a year, claiming he “didn’t realize she was dead.”
Defense in NY corpse case suggests “extreme grief disorder” could explain suspect’s actions. #CourtNews— Legal Updates (@LegalUpdateUS) August 9, 2025
But prosecutors have pushed back, saying that even if mental illness played a role, the man’s choices deprived Marissa’s family of a burial and closure for years. Her mother, speaking to one newspaper through tears, described the agony of learning her daughter had been gone all along. “Every birthday, every holiday, I thought maybe she’d walk through the door. To find out she was dead, and that he kept her there… there are no words.”
Police records show that DNA tests and dental records were used to confirm Marissa’s identity. Forensic pathologists are now attempting to determine whether her death was accidental, natural, or the result of undetected foul play. Toxicology reports are pending, and prosecutors say they are prepared to pursue additional charges if evidence supports it.
The case has sparked fierce debate online about grief, mental illness, and criminal responsibility. Some commenters on true crime forums expressed sympathy for the man, viewing his actions as those of a person “broken by loss.” Others say the preservation and concealment of a corpse for years crosses into “calculated, disturbing territory” that must be punished. “Grief doesn’t excuse turning a home into a tomb,” one user wrote.
Jury selection is expected to begin next month, with prosecutors aiming to present evidence from crime scene photos, forensic reports, and witness testimony to paint a full picture of the years-long deception. Meanwhile, Marissa’s friends have launched an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs and create a memorial in her honor. As of this week, the campaign has raised over $27,000, with supporters leaving messages demanding justice.
The trial is likely to draw national attention, with true crime networks already requesting access to proceedings. For those who knew Marissa, however, the case is less about sensational headlines and more about restoring her dignity after years of silence. “She deserved so much better,” one longtime friend told reporters. “Now we just want to make sure she gets it.”
