So sad. I’ve known a few hoarders in my time, and it’s a tough situation. When you have someone who can’t even let go of their trash, it’s impossible to talk them out of it:
CHESHIRE, Conn. —A 66-year-old woman described by police as an apparent hoarder was found dead under a pile of debris after the first floor of her Connecticut home collapsed into the basement under the weight of all the clutter, authorities said.
Police in Cheshire identified the woman as Beverly Mitchell. Her body was found in her home Saturday, two days after a postal carrier called police to request a welfare check because her mail had been piling up for at least a week.
Police Sgt. Kevin O’Donnell said officers went to the house Thursday, but didn’t find anyone and thought Mitchell wasn’t home. The first-floor had stacks of clutter to the ceilings along the walls and waist-high piles in other areas, and officials didn’t realize until Friday that the floor had collapsed, O’Donnell said.
After making sure the building was safe to enter, officials cut a hole in the side of the house and began removing debris with a backhoe. Authorities found Mitchell’s body on Saturday afternoon.
