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ST PETERSBURG, FL (WFLA) — Police in St. Petersburg, Florida arrested a woman for allegedly stealing from her dead neighbor while his body was still in the home.

Detectives found the badly decomposed body of 79-year-old John Robert Hapke Jr. at his home in a detached garage apartment. His body was so badly decomposed, a medical examiner must determine the cause of death. Foul play is not suspected.

Police say Jana Guzalak, 26, who lives two doors down, entered the rear garage apartment at least three times in the last few weeks and stole tools, electronics, credit cards, collectible coins, and cash.

Police say she admitted pawning the items and using the credit card at nearby grocery stores.

"When we confronted her, she admitted to it and she did break down, admitted to using the credit card and to taking cash from his pants," said Yolanda Fernandez from the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Detectives think Guzalak pawned the tools and electronics.

They think she returned at least three times, as Hapke's corpse lay nearby.

I felt bad. I felt like I should have pursued it more towards the landlord like get rid of this smell, get rid of this smell then maybe they would have found him. –Elizabeth Blankenship

"I think that's about the lowest form you could be on the planet," said neighbor, Robert Whitehead.

"That could be somebody's grandfather, and I don't think people think too kindly of somebody going around doing something like that," he said.

Elizabeth Blankenship put out bleach when her landlord wouldn't take care of the smell.

"I felt bad. I felt like I should have pursued it more towards the landlord, like get rid of this smell, get rid of this smell, then maybe they would have found him," she said.

Now Guzalak is facing serious charges.

"I don't even know how you'd walk in the house really with that pungent of a smell and none the less go along and stealing his stuff," said Kyle Galloway.

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