The Woman Who Bought 60 Kilograms of Meat Every Day: What Police Discovered Inside the Abandoned Building
An Unusual Customer at the Butcher Shop
Every morning, shortly after sunrise, Lidia walked into the small butcher shop in the center of the village.
For years, she had been one of the quietest customers. She rarely spoke more than necessary, always purchased modest quantities of food, and preferred to leave before the shop became crowded.
The butcher, Ovidiu, had known her for a long time. He remembered her as a polite elderly woman who lived alone in a modest house near the edge of the village.
That was why he was so surprised when she appeared one Monday morning and made an extraordinary request.
“Sixty kilograms of beef, please,” she said.
Ovidiu looked up from the counter.
“Did you say sixty kilograms?”
Lidia nodded.
For a moment, he thought he had misunderstood her. Sixty kilograms was an enormous quantity of meat, far more than an ordinary household would need.
“Are you preparing something special?” he asked.
“My son is coming to visit,” she answered quietly. “We are having a family meal.”
Ovidiu smiled politely and began preparing the order.
He had heard that Lidia had family members living elsewhere, so her explanation did not initially seem impossible. Still, he could not help wondering why an elderly woman living alone would need so much food.
As he weighed the meat, he noticed that Lidia was unusually nervous.
Her hands trembled while she counted the money. She repeatedly looked toward the shop entrance, almost as if she expected someone to appear.
When the packages were ready, she thanked him and left without another word.
Ovidiu watched through the window as she struggled to load the heavy bags into her vehicle.
He wondered what kind of gathering could require so much meat.
At the time, he had no idea that this ordinary-looking purchase would eventually bring the police to an abandoned building outside the village.
The First Suspicion
Later that afternoon, Ovidiu mentioned Lidia’s unusual purchase to a regular customer.
The customer laughed.
“Perhaps she is preparing a wedding feast,” he joked.
Ovidiu smiled, but something about the situation continued bothering him.
He remembered that Lidia had lived alone for years. He had rarely heard her mention visitors, relatives, or large family gatherings.
There was also something strange about the explanation she had given.
She had said that her son was coming to visit.
But when Ovidiu mentioned this to another villager, the response surprised him.
“Her son? I thought he died years ago.”
Ovidiu stopped what he was doing.
“Are you sure?”
The villager nodded.
“Everyone around here knows what happened. He passed away a long time ago.”
Ovidiu tried to dismiss the conversation.
Perhaps the villager was mistaken. Perhaps Lidia had another son. There were many possibilities, and he did not want to make assumptions about someone’s private life.
Nevertheless, the information made the unusual purchase seem even stranger.
That evening, he went home thinking about the elderly woman and the enormous quantity of meat she had purchased.
He decided that if she returned the next morning, he would ask a few more questions.
The Second Morning
The following morning, Lidia arrived shortly after the butcher shop opened.
Ovidiu recognized her immediately.
She wore the same dark coat and carried the same old handbag.
“Good morning, Lidia,” he greeted her.
She gave him a brief nod.
“Good morning. I need another sixty kilograms of beef.”
Ovidiu stared at her.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“Is everything all right? That’s a lot of meat.”
Lidia looked uncomfortable.
“It’s for my family.”
Ovidiu remembered what he had learned about her son.
He decided to ask carefully.
“I heard your son was no longer with us. I’m sorry if I’m mistaken.”
Lidia’s expression changed immediately.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she looked directly at him.
“Please, don’t ask questions.”
Her voice was quiet, but there was something in it that made Ovidiu uncomfortable.
He prepared the order.
As before, she paid in cash, collected the packages, and left quickly.
This time, however, Ovidiu noticed that she was having difficulty carrying everything.
He offered to help.
“No!” she answered sharply.
Then, realizing how abruptly she had spoken, she lowered her voice.
“No, thank you. I can manage.”
She loaded the packages herself and drove away.
Ovidiu stood at the entrance for several moments.
He had never seen Lidia behave this way.
The Third Purchase Raises More Questions
On the third morning, the situation became even more unusual.
Lidia returned to the shop and requested the same quantity.
Sixty kilograms.
By now, Ovidiu was certain that something unusual was happening.
He had sold meat to restaurants, hotels, and large families, but he had never seen one elderly woman purchase such a quantity every morning without providing a clear explanation.
“Perhaps I can arrange a delivery for you,” he suggested. “It would save you some trouble.”
Lidia shook her head.
“No deliveries.”
“Are you sure? I could bring the packages wherever you need them.”
“No. I must take them myself.”
Ovidiu looked at her carefully.
Her clothes were slightly dirty, and she appeared exhausted.
There were dark marks on the sleeves of her coat, although he could not determine what they were.
“Are you feeling well?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you have someone helping you?”
Lidia did not answer.
Instead, she placed the money on the counter and waited for the meat.
When everything was ready, she collected the packages and left.
This time, Ovidiu decided to pay closer attention to where she was going.
He watched from the shop window as her vehicle moved through the village and disappeared along the road leading toward the old forest.
He remembered the direction.
There was an abandoned industrial building in that area, a place that had been closed for years.
Nobody had much reason to visit it.
Ovidiu began wondering whether Lidia was taking the meat there.
But why?
Rumors Begin Spreading Through the Village
By the fourth day, the story had spread.
People in small villages often notice unusual events quickly, especially when they involve someone they have known for many years.
The same questions were being discussed in shops, cafés, and on street corners.
Why did Lidia need so much meat?
Who was eating it?
Why did she refuse help?
Some people suggested that she might be feeding stray animals.
Others believed she was supplying a restaurant or selling the meat privately.
A few villagers thought she might be preparing food for a charitable organization.
But none of these explanations seemed convincing.
The quantity was simply too large.
Ovidiu found himself thinking about the matter even when he was not working.
He remembered the old woman’s trembling hands and the way she repeatedly looked over her shoulder.
He also remembered her strange explanation about her son.
One afternoon, he spoke with a neighbor who lived near the road leading toward the forest.
The neighbor confirmed that Lidia’s vehicle had passed several times during the previous days.
“She always goes in the same direction,” he explained.
“Does she stop anywhere?”
“Near the old building. I saw her carrying bags inside.”
Ovidiu felt a chill.
The abandoned building had been closed for years.
Its windows were damaged, its doors were rusted, and the surrounding property had become overgrown.
Why would Lidia take so much meat there?
He decided that the situation could no longer be ignored.
The Abandoned Building
The building had once been used for industrial storage.
It stood beyond the last houses of the village, surrounded by trees and an overgrown access road.
Years earlier, workers had used the property to store equipment and supplies.
After the business closed, the building was gradually forgotten.
The roof had deteriorated, several windows were broken, and weeds covered much of the surrounding ground.
Children sometimes dared one another to approach the property, but most adults avoided it.
There was nothing particularly mysterious about the place.
It was simply an abandoned structure that nobody had bothered to repair or demolish.
However, Lidia’s repeated visits had suddenly made it the center of attention.
Ovidiu began thinking about the possible risks.
What if someone was being held there?
What if the meat was being stored improperly?
What if Lidia herself needed assistance?
He did not want to accuse an elderly woman without evidence.
At the same time, he could not ignore what he had observed.
He finally decided to contact the police.
The Decision to Call the Authorities
Ovidiu visited the local police station and explained everything.
He described the unusual purchases, the quantities involved, Lidia’s behavior, and the information he had received about her deceased son.
He also explained that he believed she was transporting the meat to an abandoned building outside the village.
The officers listened carefully.
They asked several questions.
Had he personally seen her enter the building?
Did he know whether anyone else visited the property?
Had he noticed any signs of violence?
Ovidiu answered honestly.
He had seen the woman carrying the packages, but he did not know what happened after she entered the building.
The police understood that the situation required further investigation.
They decided to visit the property and determine whether there was any immediate danger.
Ovidiu agreed to show them the location.
That evening, a police vehicle traveled along the narrow road leading toward the forest.
The sky was beginning to darken.
The surrounding trees cast long shadows across the abandoned property.
When they arrived, the officers noticed several things that immediately attracted their attention.
There were fresh tire marks near the entrance.
Several empty plastic bags had been left beside the building.
A strong smell came from somewhere inside.
The officers approached carefully.
Then they heard a noise.
Someone was moving behind the closed metal door.
An Unexpected Encounter
The officers knocked.
“Police. Please open the door.”
For several seconds, there was no response.
Then a woman’s voice answered from inside.
“Who is it?”
“Police officers. We need to speak with you.”
The door opened slightly.
Lidia appeared in the narrow opening.
She looked exhausted.
Her face was pale, her hair was untidy, and her hands were covered with dark stains.
When she saw the officers, she seemed frightened.
“Please,” she whispered. “Don’t go inside.”
The officers exchanged glances.
“Is anyone else here?” one of them asked.
Lidia lowered her head.
“No.”
“Why have you been bringing so much meat here?”
She did not answer.
The officer repeated the question.
This time, Lidia began crying.
“I didn’t want anyone to find out,” she said.
The officers explained that they needed to make sure nobody was in danger.
Lidia stepped away from the door.
The metal entrance opened fully.
Inside, the smell became stronger.
The officers switched on their flashlights.
They could see several large containers, empty packaging, and equipment that appeared to have been arranged in a hurry.
One officer moved farther inside.
Then he stopped.
“What is that?” he asked.
The others approached.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
The discovery was not what they had expected.
What the Police Found Inside
The building contained a large, makeshift animal shelter.
Several dogs were inside.
Some were frightened and immediately moved away from the officers. Others approached cautiously, apparently accustomed to Lidia’s presence.
There were also several smaller animals in separate areas.
The officers noticed that the building had been divided into different sections.
Some spaces contained blankets and old mattresses.
Others held food containers, water bowls, and basic supplies.
The meat had been stored in large containers and refrigerators, although some of the storage arrangements were clearly inadequate.
The officers also noticed that several animals appeared weak and needed veterinary attention.
Lidia stood near the entrance, crying quietly.
“These animals have nobody,” she explained.
One officer looked at her.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Many years.”
“Why didn’t you contact an animal shelter?”
Lidia wiped her eyes.
“I tried. But there were too many. Some were injured. Some had been abandoned. I couldn’t leave them.”
The officers began to understand the situation.
The sixty kilograms of meat had not been intended for a mysterious family gathering.
Lidia had been using it to feed animals she had collected or rescued over time.
Her explanation about her son had been a lie, but the reason behind it was more complicated than anyone had imagined.
The Truth About Her Son
During the conversation, one of the officers asked Lidia why she had mentioned her son.
She remained silent for a long time.
Then she explained that her son had died several years earlier.
He had been an animal lover.
According to Lidia, he had often helped injured dogs