Cause of death released in Heights bones case

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Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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Mary Cerruti poses with a tribute she created for her parents as part of the annual Day of the Dead celebration at Casa Ramirez, a store where she occasionally worked. The store owners estimate the photo was taken around 2010. The basket contains images of her parents, a wood folk art skeleton, marigolds and small candles. less

Photo: Agapito Sanchez For Casa Ramirez, Courtesy Of Casa Ramirez

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A collage of undated photos taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A collage of undated photos taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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Mary Cerruti’s shadow is seen in an undated photo taken by her, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo of writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo of writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo of writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo of writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A copy photo of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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A photo showing writing on the back of an undated photo taken by Mary Cerruti, is seen Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

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Photo: Agapito Sanchez For Casa Ramirez, Courtesy Of Casa Ramirez

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Mary Cerruti’s basket holds photos of her mother and father, Ruth and Boyd Stewart, who died 35 years ago.

Photo: Karen Warren, Chronicle

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The picture of Mary Cerruti that was on a Houston Police Department Missing Persons Unit flyer in 2015. Cerruti had last been seen in the spring of 2015. (Photo courtesy Houston Police Department)

Photo: Houston Police Department Missing Persons Unit

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At top, a photo still on file with Kingsville ISD shows a young Mary Stewart, who graduated from high school in 1972. She was twelfth in her class, according to records. Source: Kingsville ISD file photo Below, a 1974 yearbook photo shows Mary Cerruti’s father, Dr. S. Boyd Stewart, who was the dean of Arts & Sciences. Source: Courtesy of Texas A & M University Kingsville

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A clip in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Feb. 15, 1974 describes the death of Mary Cerruti’s father, Dr. S. Boyd Stewart.

Photo: Courtesy Of Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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A 1974 yearbook photo from Texas A & I shows Mary Cerruti’s father, Dr. S. Boyd Stewart, who was the dean of Arts & Sciences.

Photo: Courtesy Of Texas A & M University Kingsville, Courtesy

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A newspaper clip from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times on Aug. 30, 1967, describes the death of Mary Cerruti’s mother, Mrs. S. Boyd Stewart.

Photo: Courtesy Of Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Notice of a lawsuit to foreclose on Mary Cerruti’s home in the Heights was sent sometime on or after March 24, 2015. The certified mail return receipt, depicted in a copy of a court filing here, shows that someone at the address signed for the documents by the end of the month. less

Photo: Harris County District Clerk

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A photo shows the house on Oct. 22, 2015 where Mary Cerruti lived on Allston St.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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A photo shows the house on July 3, 2015 where Mary Cerruti lived on Allston St.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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A photo shows the house on April 18, 2015 where Mary Cerruti lived on Allston St.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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A photo shows the house on Oct. 22, 2015 where Mary Cerruti lived on Allston St.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday on Monday, March 6, 2017, in Houston. The house was the former residence of a 61-year-old woman, who was the last holdout in the neighborhood, refusing to sell to developers who were leveling 1930s bungalows in favor of modern apartments, She went missing in 2015. The house was foreclosed, repaired and flipped and the new owners discovered human remains inside one of the walls of the home.

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Photo: J. Patric Schneider/For The Chronicle

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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Photo: J. Patric Schneider, Freelance

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Photo: J. Patric Schneider/For The Chronicle

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston. The house was the former residence of a 61-year-old woman, who was the last holdout in the neighborhood, refusing to sell to developers who were leveling 1930s bungalows in favor of modern apartments, She went missing in 2015. The house was foreclosed, repaired and flipped and the new owners discovered human remains inside one of the walls of the home.

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Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This house on Allston Street in the Heights, where human remains were discovered in a wall on Saturday, is shown surrounded by development on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Association Of Realtors

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This two-bedroom, steel-blue 1930s-era home is among the last few standing next to condo towers and shiny new townhomes in the 600 block of Allston Street in the heights. The new owners were just moving in on Saturday — the upturned soil still fresh in a row of pink, white, yellow and purple flowers in front of the porch — when one of them shifted a board in the attic, peered down inside a wall and saw a jumble of bones. Neighbors said the remains could belong to a woman who went missing in 2015. less

Photo: Mark Collette, Mark Collette/Houston Chronicle

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The Texas Junk Company, photographed on March 15, 2017, closed last year. Its owner considered Mary Cerruti a friend.

Photo: Emily Foxhall

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The larger home on Fargo St., where Mary Cerruti lived off and on during the 1980’s and 1990’s, before she moved to the Heights. A former employer believed she inherited it from her grandmother.

Photo: Emily Foxhall

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The larger home on Fargo St., where Mary Cerruti lived off and on during the 1980’s and 1990’s, before she moved to the Heights. A former employer believed she inherited it from her grandmother.

Photo: Emily Foxhall

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The smaller of two homes that Mary Cerruti owned on Fargo St., on the fringes of Montrose. The area attracted an artsy, bohemian type.

Photo: Emily Foxhall

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