Lake Fong, Post-Gazette The home of Phil Royer in Cranberry, where police found the body of his 90-year-old mother, Bobbie. Click photo for larger image.

Butler County officials aren't saying much about a body that was found in the freezer of a small ranch-style house in Cranberry.

The same isn't true for neighbors of 320 Vandervort Drive, where 90-year-old Bobbie Royer lived with her son, Phil Royer Jr., 56.

Chuck Ross, of Cranberry, said he was shocked Wednesday evening when he overheard emergency responders at his next-door neighbor's house. They were talking about Mrs. Royer and the fact that her body had been found in the freezer.

Authorities were hoping the body will be thawed enough to conduct an autopsy today.

Until then, officials are staying mum.

District Attorney Randa Clark said she would have no comment on the cause of death or the condition of Mrs. Royer's body until after an autopsy and toxicology studies are complete. Cranberry Public Safety Director Steve Mannell only would confirm that an investigation is under way.

County aging officials became concerned when Mrs. Royer's Meals on Wheels service was discontinued. An employee visited Wednesday, and soon after, police cars showed up.

Though Mr. Royer was taken to the police station for questioning, he has not been charged.

Mrs. Royer and her son lived alone at the house.

The house stands out along the narrow street of attractive homes with tidy yards. Cardboard covers the glass of the front door and a two-foot strip of yard along the roadway has waist-high weeds.

Mr. Royer has been feuding with Cranberry for a few years. The township put a municipal lien against the property in March for nonpayment of the sewage and garbage bill. In June, he was found guilty of a summary offense for failing to pay his bill. He was fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs.

Cranberry Assistant Manager Dan Santoro said Mr. Royer has been refusing to pay the bill as a protest of Cranberry's passing of an ordinance two years ago requiring municipal garbage pickup. He said the bill, which includes both garbage and sewage, remains in arrears.

Mr. Ross said the neighborhood generally regards Mr. Royer as "argumentative" and "not easy to get along with."

He said he was outside Wednesday evening when county officials came to remove Mrs. Royer's body and he overheard them talking about the fact that she was frozen. "When I heard them say that, I just thought it was a real shame,'' said Mr. Ross.

He said that he hadn't seen Mrs. Royer at all for about six months and very infrequently for several years. He said he had been "friendly" with her husband until his death several years ago.

"The old man and his son argued. He [the father] thought his son was leeching off of him. But Mom didn't want to put him out," said Mr. Ross.

Mr. Royer refused comment yesterday.