Man, 93, Freezes to Death in Home

[eleven]

I really do believe this is murder. it is against the law to abuse an elderly person just like it is children. Authorities should have been notified and a court order to go into the home should have been done before turning off/limiting whatever they are calling it.
This is murder. So whose speaking for this man? Whose investigating this murder? I think we need to scream real loud about this.

I agree.

I am feeling heartbroken and physically ill after reading this story.

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS WORLD COMING TO??? ** WAIT--Don't answer that. The truth is just too much to swallow ** It's all about money money money. I wonder how much the CEO/COO of the power company makes in an annual salary? Bonus? UGH.

This is ......... horrifyingly shameful.

 

[txsvicki]

To even live in this world people have got to be alert, be able to understand, talk, have a way to get around, be able to apply for programs, take up for yourself, and stand up to rude receptionists. The very young, those who don't understand english, the lower IQ, and some elderly don't have a chance to survive long on their own in this sick society. The SHTF for this poor man and he didn't survive. His economy collapsed and he was left with nothing for survival. I'd like to buy all the people who can't afford electricity a good wood burning stove and wood for emergencies like this.

 

[MeoW333]

I really do believe this is murder. it is against the law to abuse an elderly person just like it is children. Authorities should have been notified and a court order to go into the home should have been done before turning off/limiting whatever they are calling it.
This is murder. So whose speaking for this man? Whose investigating this murder? I think we need to scream real loud about this.

Beyond Belief, it is so true, this man and probably many others in his situation need a voice! They need to check on their elderly population and get some kind of set up where their neighbors can get involved with them, if they have no family. Neighbors should do it anyway, yet it looks like some people need "training" on checking up on elderly neighbors. We do it here, the only ones on the block. The newer families that moved in with a lot of children are too busy to do it.

 

[thefragile7393]

This is completely and utterly ridiculous. This should have never happened!
This quote from the article

Bay City Manager Robert Belleman said that he was "deeply saddened" by Schur's death and that State Police will investigate. But he also said neighbors have a responsibility to each other.
"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."

burns me to no end. Blame the neighbors instead of the idiots who did this. In general, sure, it's a nice thought--if you happen to even know who your neighbors are and aren't afraid of them. If I had an elderly person such as this gentleman I know I'd gladly try to get to know him and look out for him. Sadly I have drug-dealing and drug-abusing ones instead....and most people are just too involved in their lives to think about someone else. Still though, the blame lies with all the miscommunications and letting this man slip through the cracks.

 

[LaLaw2000]

this is absolutely horrible and makes me incredibly sad.
Prayers for that poor man. May he now sleep warm in heaven.

You said it best, PrayersForMaura. This is incredibly sad and was so preventable. Yes, it is perfect in Heaven, and he will never know cold or pain again.

 

[concernedperson]

He probably had some form of dementia at his age and no one to look after him. The utility should have sent someone in person after a no response then the utility worker should have notified the appropriate agency. It is easy to determine that someone this man's age is not cognizant of what he needs to do.

It is appalling that this was allowed to happen. Come on America...start caring for those around you and make the calls. You don't have to support them with your earned money just be human....the same thing with suspected child abuse. Report it and check that the report is received and acted upon. If not, go to the media. Better be thought a fool than someone who allows this to continue.

That's all I have to say...my blood pressure is returning to normal.

 

[kgeaux]

This breaks my heart. We have programs for the elderly here. They take a dollar out of every one of my bills for the elderly because I signed up for it. Although you have to worry about heat related deaths not freezing deaths here.

Same here: Our utility company has a voluntary program wherein those who are able donate $1 a month and the proceeds are used to help the poor and elderly to pay their bills.

This poor old man. I just can't imagine freezing to death inside your own home. And I can't imagine justifying my position if I were speaking for the utility company.

 

[palmerk]

I grew up about 10 miles from Bay City, but my grandmother didn't drive -and that's where she lived, so I feel like this is part of my hometown since I spent a lot of time there. It's not a bad place, however, it's a very proud place --meaning that if he was having problems with bills, with or without dementia he probably wouldn't have said anything. It only took about 24 hours for this to happen....do you see your elderly neighbors every day?

The people of Bay City are in an uproar over this. There was a meeting about electric rates and the public only wanted to rant and rave about preventing this from ever happening again. As a result of the uproar, the utility company took ALL of the limiters off ALL the houses that had them.

For those who asked, yes, there is help for people who are having problems with their utility bills --but you have to ask for it.

This should never have happened. But please don't blame the neighbors. This is a hard working, blue collar community with mostly good people who help each other. It's not a "Me Me Me" place at all.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

That is horrendous! Here...the mailmen and others are trained to watch out for those elderly people who could be in danger, but the utility company will have to answer for their actions. Putting a device which can be manually flipped back on outside may as well have been a brick wall for him. Ridiculous that the utility company didn't recognize he was 93 years old and they were putting him in grave danger even going outside into inclimate weather. Heads should definitely roll over this!! GRRRRR!

 

[LovingTheChaos]

This story was upsetting already. Now I feel like I have been hit in the gut:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/04/freezing.death.folo/index.html

A 93-year-old World War II medic who froze to death last month in his Bay City, Michigan, home left his entire estate to a local hospital, an estate attorney told CNN Wednesday.

Martin Schur poses with his wife, Marian, in 1976. Local and state officials agree that Schur's death was avoidable.

The attorney would not disclose the exact amount left behind by Martin Schur. But his nephew said his uncle indicated to family members two years ago that he had saved up more than a half-million dollars over the years. Schur and his wife, Marian, who died more than a year ago, did not have any children.
"I just know at one time he said he had over $600,000 in savings," said William Walworth. "That's what he told me and my brother, and he was proud that he was able to save and build his estate up to that."

 

[Kat]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29033269/?GT1=43001


"An attorney says a 93-year-old Michigan man who froze to death after a power company restricted electricity to his home over roughly $1,000 in unpaid bills left an estimated $600,000 to a hospital.

Marvin Schur's attorney, Cathy Reder, told the Detroit Free Press the World War II veteran bequeathed his entire fortune to Bay Medical Center."


"Schur's frozen body was found Jan. 17, four days after Bay City Electric Light & Power installed a device on his electric meter that cuts power after a predetermined level is reached.

State regulators on Wednesday issued emergency rules designed to protect more people against electricity or heat shutoffs in the winter."


Thank goodness they issued those emergency rules to help prevent this from happening again.

Breaks my heart hearing a WWII hero die in this manner.