Authorities say 66-year-old Beverly Mitchell was found in her Cheshire home Saturday, two days after a postal carrier called police to request a welfare check because her mail was piling up.

Cheshire, Connecticut, police say they went to the home Thursday but didn't find anyone.

Police say the first floor was piled waist-high with clutter, and they didn't realize until Friday that the floor had collapsed.

Officials say they found Mitchell's body while removing debris with a backhoe through a hole in the house.

Police say Mitchell had declined offers of help from social service officials over the years.

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