The body of woman who has been missing for four years was found inside a bag stuffed into a manhole at her home.

The remains of Sylvia Frens were reportedly found after police followed a smell at her home, now occupied by someone else.

Reports said the current occupant reported a rubbish bag inside the manhole in March.

Inside, the remains of Sylvia, from Colorado state in the US, were discovered.

An autopsy concluded Sylvia tragically died from blows to the head and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, police said.

Sylvia Frens pictured when she was younger ( Image: Grand Junction PD)

The 82-year-old was reported missing in 2018 by her daughter.

Her son, Richard Vandervelde, 54, was charged on May 29 with first-degree murder, according to the Daily Star.

Vandervelde, who lived with her at the time of her disappearance, was also charged with tampering with a deceased human body, fraud-identity theft, motor vehicle theft, and abuse of a corpse, police said.

Her son Richard Vandervelde was living with her at the time of her disappearance ( Image: Grand Junction PD)

Reports said police found Vandervelde was using his mum's debit cards, allegedly withdrawing more than $10,000 (£8,000) in cash but later claiming his mum had authorised him to use her cards.

He has also been accused in reports of using her car.

Vandervelde was arrested in Florida in May this year and is being held on a $1 million bond at the Mesa County Detention Facility in Colorado, after being extradited back to the state.

He is due to appear in court on June 21.