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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs This How We Want Our Old Folks To Die In America? Couple Freeze To Death In Home With No Power.
MIDVALE, Utah An elderly couple was found dead inside a Midvale home Friday night, and officials said late Saturday initial reports show a combination of natural causes and the cold caused their death.
Lt. Justin Hoyal of the Unified Police Department said family members hadnt heard from the couple, a man and woman ages 87 and 79, in several weeks.
Police said family members found the bodies after going to the home, located near 1000 East and 7240 South in Midvale, to check on the couple. When detectives arrived, they did not find any obvious signs of violence.
Hoyal said later Saturday night that preliminary autopsy reports indicate the couple died due to a combination of natural causes and the cold. He said the couple did not have power, but he said he did not know why they did not.
More:
http://fox13now.com/2014/02/01/police-investigating-after-elderly-couple-found-dead-in-midvale-home/
NutmegYankee
(16,225 posts)Doesn't Utah have a similar law?
jsr
(7,712 posts)and threw them in the trash
former9thward
(32,272 posts)But if the power is already off the companies do not have to turn the power back on in the winter. Don't know what the situation was here.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)My 94-year old grandfather is fiercely independent, and highly functional, yet a DAILY check-in is still required.
Very sorry for this couple. I hope they were able to comfort each other. I wonder if their power was shut-off?
polly7
(20,582 posts)We always think family, friends, neighbours keep watch on people ....... obviously, they may not be able to close enough. I think there should be some sort of municipal registry where everyone at risk - the elderly, infirm, etc. are listed to have wellness checks by at least a group of volunteers, especially in extreme and cold weather.
and I'm not blaming their family ... no-one knows how often they tried, or whether they were able to get there in time. Very sad for them.
Response to kpete (Original post)
Mnemosyne This message was self-deleted by its author.
NutmegYankee
(16,225 posts)It appears the Granddaughter left his in the comments section:
Hi f, Im the granddaughter who found my grandparents in their home and Id like to fill you in on a little secret. The news media doesnt always have the whole story. 1) It wasnt several weeks. It was a few days. 2) They had the money. The bill was on auto-pay and somehow dropped off. We were not aware of it as we dont always get the bills. Oh and 3) I read your comment. Think before you try to toss blame on someone and say something so hurtful.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Lord, I hope that's what it was. If it was intentional, no words could do it justice. Even if it's procedural it's horrible.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)Once their ability to buy stuff is eroded by inflation and lack of meaningful social security COLAS, no one gives a damn. As an elderly person who is going through this transition I know it to be true.
Mojo Electro
(362 posts)..apparently the granddaughter who found them commented in the comments section. She states that the power bill was supposedly on auto-pay but "dropped off".
There can be no possible justification for this.
LiberalArkie
(15,753 posts)Before the smart meters, a meter man would have to be dispatched to remove the meter. No one was dispatched during cold weather. But a computer error could turn off the power even it wasn't supposed to do it.
The power companies need to get away from the remote disconnect and make a human do it on site.
Mojo Electro
(362 posts)I love how they sell the smart meters. "You'll save money because a meter reader doesn't have to come out. It's great for everybody."
They do it so it is easier for them to shut off your power.
msongs
(67,703 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)I guess the GOP was too busy to help out while attending billionaire yacht parties as well.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)they don't give a shit about anybody but themselves.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)If "we" didn't, "we" wouldn't put talking about SS cuts or "chained cpi" on the table; "we" would support unions, a living wage, universal, single-payer, NOT_FOR_PROFIT health CARE, and so many other things that would make it possible to live a reasonably prosperous life all the way through old age.
QC
(26,371 posts)and there's not much work anyone can do at 79, much less 87.
Welcome to Peter Schiff's America.