The Mystery Of Joyce Carol Vincent's Death

According to All That's Interesting, neighbors didn't even realize Vincent had died. They believed a foul smell, which was likely her body decomposing, was the result of garbage bins and other "factors" (via Ranker). Vincent's former friends were utterly shocked to learn about her death. The Guardian reports that at one point, she had a high-paying job and a number of boyfriends. Vincent had met celebrities including Nelson Mandela and singer Betty Wright. Nonetheless, her friends felt like they didn't know her beyond the surface. Vincent later left her job in 2001 without giving a valid reason.

Although she portrayed herself as "bubbly," many believed there was much more going on that she did not disclose. Whatever the case, Vincent ended up in a shelter for victims of domestic abuse sometime after quitting her job. Per Historic Mysteries, some attribute her isolation to the abuse she endured. 

Others thought she had stopped contacting them simply because she was too busy. The Crime Scene reports that her own sisters had failed to reach her as they believed she did not want to be contacted. Sadly, the truth is Joyce Carol Vincent died alone in a shabby apartment, without anyone knowing. "Dreams of Life," a film that explores Vincent's death and paradoxical life, was released in 2011.