How long after death does decomposition happen?

Question

Well it's a pretty long story but I'll cut it down as short as i can. My Gran was found dead in her bed on the 1st August this year, the neighbor said she smelt a funny smell so contacted the landlord about it, the last time any of the family had spoken to her was 27th June, the post mortum toxicology reports are gonna take 16 weeks to come back for cause of death and i've been told they probably won't know when she died but will have a rough date. I'd like to know this for my own sake, so how long does it take for your body to decompose that much that the neighbours can smell it and the body is unviewable cause it's so much of a state?

Last spoke to her: 27th June

Found dead: 1st August

Answer 1

Well, depending on the environmental conditions on where she died, decomposition can start fairly quickly. Usually, the blood will pool at the lowest points (back, legs, feet) depending on the position of the body.

I would say that it would take about a day or two before decomposition really starts, but if her house was cool and dry, it might be up to a week before things get odoriferous.  

Answer 2

I'd say about up to a week. I'm so sorry for your loss. And I thought my gran's illness was bad. I'm not going to say in case I start crying. She's just been diagnosed and I hope she survives.

Answer 3

Decomposition starts straight away but to be able to smell it in hot weather i would say 4-6 days.

Answer 4

human body is a very complicated machine...when it dies it usually starts to decompose after a few hours...but sometimes (personal experience) it starts long after...even more than 35 hours...it depends on the environmental conditions and the cause of death...