A mummified body believed to be that of an early Playboy Playmate has been found in a dilapidated Beverly Hills home after evidently being undiscovered for up to a year, authorities said on Monday.
The house was owned by Yvette Vickers, a B-movie actress who was named Playboy's Miss July in 1959, almost six years after the men's magazine was first published.
Neighbor Susan Savage found the body last Wednesday when her suspicions were aroused by old letters and cobwebs in the mailbox. The house was packed with boxes, and at least one window was broken. A space heater was running in the upstairs room where the body was lying on the floor.
Although Vickers generally kept to herself in the neighborhood, Savage decided to check on her.
"The letters seemed untouched and were starting to yellow," Savage said. "I just had a bad feeling."
"We don't know if it's a Jane Doe or a John Doe," said Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
Police said there were no signs of foul play.
"We've all been crying about this," Savage said. "Nobody should be left alone like that."
Vickers, born Yvette Vedder in Kansas City, Missouri, was variously described as being either 82 or 74. She was briefly married twice during the 1950s.
Her film credits include 1958's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" and 1959's "Attack of the Giant Leeches." Her last feature role was in a 1990 horror called "Evil Spirits."
Reuters and E! Online contributed to this report.