Amelia Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 93-year-old man freezes to death indoors 93-year-old man had almost $1,100 in unpaid electric bills The Associated Press Jan. 26, 2009 BAY CITY, Mich. - A 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home, an autopsy has determined, just days after the city limited his flow of electricity for not paying his bills. Marvin E. Schur died "a slow, painful death," said Kanu Virani, Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner, who performed Schur's autopsy. Neighbors discovered Schur's body on Jan. 17. The indoor temperature was below 32 degrees (0 Celsius) at the time, the neighbors told The Bay City Times for a story Monday. Schur had no children, and his wife passed away several years ago. The man had almost $1,100 in unpaid electric bills, said neighbor George Pauwels Jr., who discovered Schur's body. The utility installed a "limiter" device outside Schur's home on Jan. 13, said Bay City Manager Robert Belleman. The device limits electricity flow to the home and blows out like a fuse if more than allowed is drained. Belleman said he doesn't know if anyone talked to Schur to explain how to reset the device to restore power. Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p>
Administrators Gail Posted January 26, 2009 Administrators Posted January 26, 2009 How could this have been avoided? Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Amelia Posted January 26, 2009 Author Posted January 26, 2009 This story just angers me beyond belief. So many things could have been done. Where were the neighbors? Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p>
Moderators Jeannieb43 Posted January 27, 2009 Moderators Posted January 27, 2009 Sounds like the utility company has some liability there. Quote Jeannie<br /><br /><br />...Change is inevitable; growth is optional....
olger Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Sad, but he apparently was old enough to not care anymore. All he would have had to do was make his plight known to the county. We don't let people freeze to death in this country if we can help it, but we have to be aware of it first. Things happen sometimes, and it's best to not waste time looking for blame (liability). Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.."
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted January 27, 2009 Members Posted January 27, 2009 He may have been too old to have known what to do, like so many elderly with no younger relatives to rely on. So many elderly turn into "children" as they age. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Neil D Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I agree with Pam....Too many unknowns here.... I have also seen some stubborn seniors as well.... I had a senior who left AMA'd the hospital while still sick...He just didn't want to be in the hospital. Of course, his blood C02 level was 70-90 and he had a lot of fluid in the body, but hey, he couldn't wait another day....Had to get home... ...I expect him to be in the hospital tonight or tomorrow or dead by the end of the week...the old saying is true...You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw
Dottie Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Some governments have laws keeping utilities from cutting power for nonpayment of bills, especially during severe weather. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.