Pa. man allegedly lived with wife’s corpse for over a month, used shovel to move body around house

SOUTH LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (TCN) -- A 68-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly not reporting his wife’s death for over a month, according to the district attorney.

WHP-TV reports that on April 14, officers responded to a home after getting a request to perform a welfare check. Officers made contact with Michael Mikula, who told them that his wife, 66-year-old Sharlene Mikula, wasn’t at home. Authorities entered the home and found the body of Sharlene Mikula on the floor of a bedroom. She was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition. Officers said the home smelled like death and that there were flies present. 

Charging documents obtained by WHP-TV allege that Mikula told authorities that his wife died about a month prior and that he moved her remains throughout the house using a shovel.

During an interview with one of Sharlene Mikula’s family members, investigators learned that multiple requests for welfare checks were made, most recently in February. She had a history of mental health issues and had spent time in an inpatient facility after a March 2025 welfare check found her to be malnourished, WHP-TV reports. In the interview, the relative also alleged that Mikula, who had power of attorney over his wife, was verbally abusive.

LebTown reports that according to the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office, “There is no evidence to indicate Michael Mikula sought medical treatment for Sharlene nor did he attempt to notify authorities of her passing.” 

WHP-TV reports Mikula was charged April 17 with neglect of a care-dependent person, abuse of corpse, recklessly endangering another person, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and tampering with evidence.

Due to Sharlene Mikula’s advanced state of decomposition at the time she was discovered, her cause and manner of death will be difficult to determine, according to WHP-TV. 

The Lebanon Daily News reports that during the autopsy, Sharlene Mikula was found to have multiple fractures throughout her body in various stages of healing. According to court records obtained by the outlet, she had lost 100 pounds over the course of a year and suffered from depression. She had spent time in a behavioral health hospital for these concerns. WGAL reports she stayed there for 51 days starting in May 2025.

According to WHP-TV, Mikula is behind bars in lieu of $100,000 bail. Law & Crime reports he is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 23. The investigation is ongoing. 

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