The bodies of four family members killed in a suspected murder-suicide have been found decomposing in an apartment one month after they died after neighbours complained about a bad smell and swarms of flies gathering around the windows.

Cops suspect that Firuz Erov, 42, killed his 40-year-old wife Yulia and their two daughters inside their apartment in the Russian city of Shchyolkovo, some 12 miles northeast of Moscow.

Neighbours contacted the police after they noticed a bad smell coming from the front door, and officers arrived on the scene to find the dead bodies inside the apartment on 30th May.

No one had previously raised the alarm about the family’s disappearance as sisters Diana, 17, and Dayana, 11, were homeschooled. Relatives had not noticed their disappearance either as they mostly live in Tajikistan.

Investigators do not yet know the motive for the crime. However, they suspect there had been tension between Erov and his wife because the former had allegedly gambled away significant sums of money.

Cops believe the dead bodies had been decomposing inside the apartment for around a month, and neighbours filmed swarms of flies gathering outside the apartment’s windows.

The female victims’ bodies were found inside the apartment with numerous stab wounds in the chest area. Erov’s dead body was found without visible injuries. However, an empty bottle of acetic acid was found next to him.

Officers seized a number of items from the scene as the authorities carry out autopsies on the dead bodies.

The investigation continues.