A woman in Apple Valley, California was reportedly forced to take desperate measures after her husband passed away. Police learned she had buried him in the backyard.

When facing financial difficulties, even proper burials can be out of reach for many families.

A woman in Apple Valley, California was reportedly forced to take desperate measures after her husband passed away.

Police were sent to the family home to do a welfare check on the 63-year-old unnamed man of the house. Once officers spoke to the male’s wife, they learned she had buried him in the backyard.

Deputies did indeed find the body in a shallow grave behind the family home. The 59-year-old woman claimed she did not have the funds to pay for a standard burial so she decided not report the death and buried his body in the backyard.

Police described the wife as “distraught”. She told deputies that her husband had died several weeks before they arrived for the welfare check.

There were no obvious signs of trauma to the body, but given the unusual circumstances, an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death.