A MUMMIFIED body found inside a dead hoarder’s home could’ve been there for more than a decade, police claim.

Sydney detectives are yet to rule out whether or not Bruce Roberts, the hoarder who lived in the Greenwich home before he died in July last year, was involved in the man’s death.

Last Tuesday, forensic cleaners tasked with cleaning out Roberts junk-filled north shore home found a mummified body wrapped in a carpet.

The body was so badly decomposed a post-mortem examination was required to determine the gender and age.

On Friday, police told reporters the body was a man in his 30s or 40s but are still unsure about how he died.

Acting Superintendent Simon Jones said the cause of death was being treated as “unnatural” and “suspicious”.

Police sources have since told the Daily Telegraph the body was Sydney man Shane Snellman.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Snellman died more than 10 years ago and was estranged from his family.

In a press conference on Friday, Acting Superintendent Jones said it was clear the body had been in Roberts’ house for a “considerable amount of time”.

Police said Mr Snellman was known to them after being involved in a number of petty crimes before his death.

It’s believed Mr Snellman hadn’t been in touch with his family for a long period of time, potentially offering an explanation as to why no missing person report was filed.

Mr Snellman’s body was found almost a year after Roberts, described as a recluse and hoarder, died.

A NSW Police spokesman previously told news.com.au the death was believed to be suspicious because of “something found on the body” but could not yet provide further details about what that was.

A police spokesman also said Mr Snellman’s death is still a “mystery”.

Long-time neighbour Gayle Meagher recalled exchanging pleasantries with Roberts.

“He was a bit of a recluse,” she told the ABC on Thursday.

“We would exchange Christmas cards and we’d always say hi … sometimes he’d respond and other times he wouldn’t.”

Detectives have been working through the mountains of evidence and junk in Roberts house.

His hoarding has made things “not very pleasant for investigators, Acting Superintendent Jones told reporters.