Shocking Photos: Mother keeps Her Dead Son's Body For 18 years

A mother whose son died 18 years ago pickled him in alcohol and stashed his corpse in the basement where she has cared for him ever since... all so his son can learn to love him.

Full story and photos after the cut...

Tsiuri Kvaratskhelia keeps Joni Bakaradze's body entombed in a wooden coffin beneath the family home in Georgia, eastern Europe. But despite having died in 1995, the 22-year-old has remained almost perfectly mummified, thanks to his mother's constant love and attention. And every year on his birthday she has even given him a change of clothes - until four years ago when decay finally made the feat impossible.

Joni, whose cause of death remains unknown, is finally beginning to decompose since illness prevented Mrs Kvaratskhelia from giving him the daily care he needs.

Could this be love or something else ?