A Cape Coral man, Alejandro Llanes, has shared the tragic story of discovering his 58-year-old sister, Areles Llanes, in an unimaginable condition at her home on Southeast Santa Barbara Place. Alejandro found her remains scattered in the backyard on Monday, with the scene so gruesome it resembled something out of a horror movie. He believes that his sister, who lived alone with her three large dogs, had been dead for weeks. Alejandro suspects the dogs, likely starving, may have resorted to eating her body to survive.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Areles’ body severely decomposed, with missing limbs and scattered remains across the property. Inside the house, the officers discovered an unsanitary environment, with dog feces and filth covering the floors. Alejandro described his sister as someone in poor health who had a history of isolating herself from family and friends. She struggled with excessive drinking and poor nutrition, which he believes led to her tragic death.
The family last heard from Areles in December and had made multiple attempts to reach out, inviting her to gatherings, but she always declined. Alejandro shared that his sister had confessed her inability to stop drinking, and despite his offers to help, she refused support. He now hopes her story will serve as a cautionary reminder about the importance of self-care, staying connected with loved ones, and seeking help when struggling.
While Cape Coral Police have not confirmed if the dogs were directly responsible for her death, they stated the incident was not considered suspicious. The three dogs—identified as a shepherd mix, a Labrador retriever, and one of unknown breed—have been taken into custody by animal control for evaluation. The investigation is ongoing.
