A South Wales Police update confirms a charge after a woman was found in a freezer in Porthcawl; the latest Schuyler County obituaries list recent passings, services, and memorial preferences
Overview
Police and grieving families in two communities are coping with recent deaths that have drawn both investigation and remembrance. In Porthcawl, Wales, officers are probing the circumstances after the body of an elderly woman was found in a private home; a local man has been arrested and charged.
Meanwhile in Schuyler County, New York, several families have published obituaries and arranged public memorials to celebrate the lives of loved ones.
Porthcawl: an active police inquiry
South Wales Police responded to a welfare call at a property on Poplar Crescent at 1:45 p.m.
on Tuesday, February 17. Officers discovered the body of a woman in her 80s and arrested 60-year-old Christopher Phillips of Porthcawl at the scene. Phillips has been charged with preventing a lawful burial — a charge that refers to actions alleged to have obstructed or delayed a proper interment rather than to the immediate cause of death.
Investigations are ongoing. Authorities have not released further medical or forensic details while enquiries continue, and they say they will provide updates through official channels as new information becomes available. Officers are still interviewing potential witnesses and collecting evidence as part of the inquiry.
Schuyler County: families publish obituaries and service information
In upstate New York, funeral homes and The Odessa File have published a series of obituaries, giving family biographies and service arrangements for several recently deceased residents. The notices come from relatives and funeral directors and include requests from families about donations or memorial preferences.
Notable notices include:
– Lucille Ann “Mema” Allen, 75, of Beaver Dams, died unexpectedly on February 14, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 28 at 1:00 p.m. at the Beaver Dams Fire Department. The family has asked that donations be made to the Beaver Dams Fire Department or the American Heart Association in lieu of flowers.
– Stanley “Skip” Young, 78, of Watkins Glen, died on February 17, 2026. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. at Matt’s Place in Beaver Dams.
– Mary Louise Campbell, 78, of Burdett, died on February 15, 2026. Friends may call on Saturday, February 21, with a memorial service to follow at Vedder-Scott & Zinger Funeral Home in Montour Falls. Campbell was long active in local volunteer work.
– Hayley J. Scholtisek, 48, of Watkins Glen, died on February 12, 2026. Funeral service and visitation are planned at Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home.
– Fred Millspaugh, who died on February 8, will be remembered at a spring memorial to be announced by the family.
– Grace Louise Stratton, 64, of Hector, died on February 3, 2026; the family suggests donations to the Humane Society of Schuyler County in lieu of flowers and currently has no services planned.
– Clayton Henry Sauberan III, 86, of Horseheads, died on February 9, 2026. Arrangements are being handled by Vedder-Scott & Zinger.
How the communities are responding
In Porthcawl, police activity has understandably prompted concern among neighbours and calls for anyone with information to come forward. In Schuyler County, neighbours and local organisations have rallied around bereaved families, attending services and following funeral home guidance on condolences and donations. Published obituaries serve a practical role here: they act as a public record while giving friends and neighbours the details they need to offer support.
What happens next
South Wales Police remain the primary source for developments in the Porthcawl case and will release further updates when enquiries and forensic work allow. In Schuyler County, funeral homes and family notices will continue to be the best place to find service times, visitation details and requested memorial gifts.
If you have information relevant to the Porthcawl investigation, contact South Wales Police through their official reporting channels. For condolences, service details, or donation instructions in Schuyler County, consult the funeral homes listed in the family notices or The Odessa File.
