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Nobody knows why Peter Wald’s body, found Tuesday, was left to decompose for months after he died in the Hamilton home he shared with his wife, six children and two other families.

The remains of Mr. Wald, 51, who had diabetes, were discovered at 29 St. Matthews Ave. by a foreclosure company worker who went to the home to evict him and his family.

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Instead, he found a body in an “advanced state of decomposition,” said Dr. Jack Stanborough, the regional coroner.

He said he could not estimate when Mr. Wald might have died.

The body has been autopsied and is awaiting toxicology and microscopy exams.

I am still in shock and I’m freaked out

But Dr. Stanborough said he’s not “terribly optimistic” these tests will turn up anything of interest.

What is certain is there are no signs of “obvious criminality … there wasn’t any sort of attempt to conceal the body” of Mr. Wald, who was well liked in the neighbourhood and had a reputation as a spiritual man.