Sources: Man accused of hiding roommate's decomposed body inside their Crown Heights apartment
Prosecutors say a cleaning crew discovered the man's remains on a couch, buried under clothing and debris. Jose Rivera, 53, is now charged with concealment of a human corpse.
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A man was arrested for allegedly hiding his roommate's decomposed remains inside their Crown Heights apartment, according to police sources.
Prosecutors say a cleaning crew discovered the man's remains on a couch, buried under clothing and debris. Jose Rivera, 53, is now charged with concealment of a human corpse.
Crews arrived to clean the apartment at 1722 Union St. just before 8 a.m. Thursday. Rivera and his roommate shared the space through a supportive housing program.
According to court documents, Rivera initially refused to let the cleaning crew in.
After the cleaning began, the NYPD was alerted to the discovery and sent officers to the apartment. Paramedics followed and pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Police say they took Rivera into custody the following day.
A man who was once a case worker for Rivera and his roommate tells News 12 that the pair lived together for nearly three years and used to argue about the cleanliness of the apartment.
He says the roommate was "never a people person," and struggled with mental health issues. Police have not released his identity as of Tuesday evening.
Although information about how long the man's body had been there was not immediately available, police sources tell News 12 that a social worker reported a "foul smell" on June 29.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner says the man's cause of death has not been determined due to the state of decomposition.
Prosecutors say the charge is not bail-eligible - Rivera was released following his arraignment on Sunday.
He is due back in court on Oct. 13.
