Is This How We Want Our Old Folks To Die In America? Couple Freeze To Death In Home With No Power.

[kpete]

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 hadn’t 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]

1. It's illegal in northern states to turn off power in the winter.

Doesn't Utah have a similar law?

[jsr]

6. This is the same state that yanked school lunches from poor kids

and threw them in the trash

[former9thward]

12. That law says it can't be turned off in the winter.

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]

2. Several weeks? I think we can also do better by our elderly relatives.

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]

3. So heartbreaking:(

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.

[NutmegYankee]

9. That information may not be true

It appears the Granddaughter left his in the comments section:

Hi “f”, I’m the granddaughter who found my grandparents in their home and I’d like to fill you in on a little secret. The news media doesn’t always have the whole story. 1) It wasn’t ‘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 don’t 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]

15. Good to hear someone actually was checking. Thanks. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

5. This was probably a procedural FUBAR

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]

7. This society is not concerned about the elderly at all except as consumers.

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]

8. At that link...

..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]

10. I wonder if the light meter was one of the smart meters. They can disconnect the power remotely.

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]

13. Agreed.

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]

17. and the utlitily pockets the savings without passing any of it on to customers. nt

[L0oniX]

11. Not one billionaire stepped in to help out? WTF (mafia hit man: It's just business)

I guess the GOP was too busy to help out while attending billionaire yacht parties as well.

[fascisthunter]

16. greedy=self-centered

they don't give a shit about anybody but themselves.

[LWolf]

14. Yes. That's how "WE" want our old folks to die.

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]

18. Hey, people are worth what they're worth,

and there's not much work anyone can do at 79, much less 87.

Welcome to Peter Schiff's America.