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05/16/2008: "Not Even Sure What To Say ..."

Sometimes, you come across stories that are wrong on so many levels, you don't even know where to start ... this is one of those.

A lot has changed in Croatia in the last 35 years - they're no longer part of Yugoslavia, the Cold War has ended, the flag has changed, and so much more. But one thing has remained the same - the body of Hedviga Golik rotting in the apartment down the hall.

Residents of her loft building in downtown Zagreb had broken into Golik's flat after deciding that the apartment should belong to them, and not to her. Startled by the remains in bed, they called police.

Forensics experts said Golik likely died in 1973, about the time a neighbor last saw her. Expert Davor Strinovic said she seemed to have died of natural causes, but "it's almost impossible to say for certain" after so much time.

Some of Golik's neighbors claimed she had talked about going abroad.

Experts said her windows had been open, likely diminishing the smell. It remained unclear who -- if anyone -- was paying her bills and who exactly owned the apartment. In the 1970s, when Golik died, apartments were state-owned.

Showing just how well the Croats have adopted Western culture, no one has come forward to claim the body, but the residents are arguing over who should get the apartment ...