Arrest over body in yard-sale freezer

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The Goldsboro Police Department provides an image of Marcia Jean Lee, who was arrested on charges of failure to report a death after her mum's body was found inside a reezer sold at a yard sale.Image source, Goldsboro Police Department
Image caption,

Ms Lee faces felony charges of failure to report a death

North Carolina police have arrested a woman after her mother's body was found inside a freezer sold at a yard sale.

Marcella Jean Lee, 56, was detained on Thursday about 100 miles (160km) south of Goldsboro, where her mum's remains were discovered.

She faces a felony charge of failure to report a death, according to police.

Police had been searching for Ms Lee for more than three months after a neighbour discovered the body of Arma Roush, 75, inside the freezer.

A post-mortem examination showed no signs of foul play in Ms Roush's death.

A neighbour bought the freezer for $30 (£23).

Ms Lee told the buyer not to open the appliance, which was taped shut.

She told the neighbour that members of a local church would come by to collect the contents of the freezer, which she referred to as a time capsule.

A few weeks later in May, the neighbour opened the freezer and found the body.

Ms Lee's mother had been living with her and was last seen in August 2015.