Just Found Out Dad Committed Suicide In His Apartment Late August (va)

Yes, I posted and deleted earlier today. Hurt feelings on my part because I just found out my dad killed himself and nobody noticed for 3 months.

Years ago, dad stopped talking to all family members and nobody lived nearby. He apparently stopped maintaining friendships too but am not sure. We couldn’t make him talk to us or return calls. This pattern began about 14 years ago.

I am his only child (legally adopted) and I tried contacting him a few times in the past year and he responded with disconnecting his phone numbers.

A detective called me a few days ago and informed me that dad shot himself in his bed. He had retired a few years ago and nobody noticed he was missing.

Last financial activity was in late August. He paid his bills, mailed his rent check and apparently shot himself shortly thereafter because of the state of decomposition he was found in.

If it’s not obvious—he lived alone. And yes, he was the sole tenant on his lease.

I am terribly upset on MANY levels. And right now I am dealing with his landlady.

She informed me she didn’t notice dad didn’t pay $2500 rent in October or November, then it dawns on her about Dec 9 that he hasn’t sent a December check.

His body is so decomposed the detective has to obtain dna from dad’s only remaining sibling alive.

Landlady is saying I’m responsible for paying the rent she failed to notice she was not receiving. She said his estate should pay. I informed her that I am not the executor of the estate and until the ME produces a death certificate, I have no idea what is in dads accounts and if he named me or someone else or anyone as beneficiary.

For all I know he shot himself because he was broke. Or he left all his money to the chipmunk rescue foundation. I know zip.

And since he didn’t talk to anyone and didn’t even leave a suicide note, I can’t imagine there is a will.

If there is an estate, VA won’t let me file probate for 60 days. And there’s some weird rule about non-residents can’t be executors without special hoops.

So…I only have 10 days to get his stuff out and I am the legal person to do it because I was listed as his emergency contact on his lease. However, she thinks she should get $5k. I told her I can’t answer her questions because as of this moment my only status is next-of-kin.

I’ve found someone to take my child in for the next ten days just before Christmas—not easy at all. And reserved a rental truck and moving crew just before Christmas, also nearly impossible. My husband and I both had to take off work.

And she’s not answering my calls or texts about when we can meet tomorrow so we can get in there and clear out her into because she wants $5k right now.

Virginia Law says she can’t do that. Who do we call if she doesn’t cooperate?

Furthermore, she told me that she informed dad he was now a month to month tenant because she needed to sell the unit. She told me she wants me to move dad’s stuff out so she can list it for sale and has no intention of renting it out again.