Bellingham couple that died had hoarded

[boston bean]

Bowen and his wife called police Wednesday after getting no response when they knocked on their neighbors' door, having noticed that the trash had not been put out for pickup and four days' worth of newspapers had not been collected.

An officer peered in at 31 Irene Court and saw Lamphere lying on the front landing, just inside the entrance. Police and firefighters tried to push through a side door, but it was blocked by belongings, and they could not squeeze through until deploying a hydraulic wedge.

Inside, an officer and a firefighter rushed past accumulated piles described as floor-to-ceiling, accidentally knocking some over because of the tight quarters.

Lamphere, 74, had died. The emergency responders found Abraham and a dog at the bottom of a short set of stairs below the landing. Both were dead, with Abraham covered by boxes and other fallen items, adding another baffling element to the disturbing scene.

holy moly, sad........


oops edit for link:

http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x999357189/Couple-that-died-had-hoarded

[cleveramerican]

1. It happens more often than you might guess

some years ago a neighbor's house burned down and she was tragically killed by the smoke.
The firefighters couldn't get in the door or up the stairs due to dozens(hundreds?) of stacks of old newspapers going back decades.
You NEVER would have guessed by meeting her, she was a charming and friendly neighbor.
She was highly educated at a fine university, she was witty and quick to make a joke.

I was, and still am baffled by it.

[boston bean]

2. I had thought about the fire danger

but items/boxes falling on you and trapping you, is something that didn't cross my mind.

:-(

[cleveramerican]

3. the Collier brothers

lived in giant mansion in Harlem decades ago. I think both of them died from stuff they hoarded falling in on them.
This might have been the first documented case of the disorder.

[Kat45]

4. My cousin lives in that town.

I'll have to ask him about this.