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Hoarder Dies After Floor Collapses Under Weight Of Debris Inside Connecticut Home

Hoarder Dies When Floor Collapses Under Weight Of Stuff
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Overnight Editor, HuffPost

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A reclusive woman believed to be a hoarder was found dead in her basement after the first floor of her Connecticut home collapsed, apparently under the weight of all her stuff, according to reports.

The home was such a wreck -- with stacks of clutter piled to the ceiling and waist-high hills of debris on the first floor -- that rescuers had to abandon their attempt on Friday to find 66-year-old Beverly Mitchell.

"We determined it wasn’t safe to continue searching and asked for assistance when we saw the first floor collapsed,” Cheshire, Conn., police Sgt. Kevin O’Donnell told the Cheshire Citizen. “We contacted Connecticut Homeland, who brought special equipment for search and rescue.”

The newspaper reports that the two-day rescue operation ultimately involved the police, fire department, cadaver dogs, police dogs and four state agencies: state police, the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Unit, the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

A body believed to be that of Mitchell was found on Saturday.

A local photojournalist sent an image of the scene out via Twitter:

66yo hoarder in Cheshire died after first floor of her home collapsed. She was found in basement covered in debris. pic.twitter.com/DluN6cAFPK

— Kevin Galliford TV (@KallMeKG) June 16, 2014

Neighbors say they knew Mitchell was a hoarder, yet still had a hard time believing the news.

“It’s a wealthy town. Everyone takes care of everything. We all look out for each other. You just couldn’t believe this would happen here,” Ryan Edwards told Fox CT.

“When that floor gave way and fell on her, was she alive and suffering? You know what I mean? You wonder, did she go right away? You hope that she did,” the station quoted neighbor Mary Stopkoski as saying.

The house had been boarded up and Mitchell was rarely seen. The few times neighbors offered to care for the lawn or shovel her driveway, she rebuffed them.

However, when Mitchell's mail began to accumulate, a postal worker contacted police.

"It's unfortunate because... we've tried all along to get her assistance, but she was a very private and solitary lady," O'Donnell told the Associated Press.

Officials have not yet identified any relatives.

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Before You Go

Advice: How To Help Hoarders
Don't Take It To Heart(01 of05)
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The first thing you need to realise is that this process will take time, especially as the majority of sufferers don't think of what they're doing as hoarding. Beaton says that you should expect setbacks. "Be very patient" she advises- - and "don't take the person's behavior personally". (credit:Alamy)
Build Trust(02 of05)
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"Never throw any of the person's belongings away without permission," warns Beaton. According to NHS guidelines on helping hoarders, you should "reassure your loved one or friend that no one is going to go into their home and throw everything out... It's generally not a good idea to call in the council or environmental health to clear the rubbish away, as it won't solve the problem and the clutter often quickly builds up again." (credit:Alamy)
Don't Argue(03 of05)
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"People with HD tend to dig their heels in more when they feel pressured by someone."Instead it's important to encourage reflection: "Ask the person about his or her long-term goals," Beaton suggests. "Find the goals that aren't consistent with hoarding behaviours, and gently point out that the current course of action is not congruent with these goals." (credit:Alamy)
Help Them Seek Help(04 of05)
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"Encourage the person to seek help from a qualified professional - someone experienced in treating HD or at least experienced in treating OCD," says Beaton. The NHS suggests that the starting point should be the local GP. "Realise that ambivalence regarding help is normal," says Beaton. "Remember that, ultimately, it's up to the individual to decide that he or she wants to change." (credit:Alamy)
Don't Give In(05 of05)
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While it can often be difficult to convince hoarders that they need help, it's also important that you do not actively enable their hoarding. For example, suggests Beaton, "don't loan the person money to go shopping, don't offer to store any of his or her possessions in your garage". (credit:Alamy)
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