Posted on 01/27/2009 7:29:00 AM PST by library user
BAY CITY, Mich. -- Officials in central Michigan say a 93-year-old man who owed more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills froze to death inside his home -- where the municipal power company had restricted his use of electricity.
Neighbors and friends of Marvin Schur want answers as to how this could happen.
“Now that we do know it was hypothermia, there’s a whole bunch of feelings that I’ve got going through me,” said Jim Herndon, a neighbor of Schur’s. “There’s anger, for the city and the electrical company.”
Bay City officials said changes are on the way in an attempt to not let another instance like this happen again.
An autopsy determined Schur, 93, died from hypothermia in the home he lived in for years.
Bay City Electric Light and Power sent Schur a shutoff notice through the mail a few weeks ago.
Then crews placed a shutoff notice on his front door. A few days later, Schur was found by neighbors.
Bay City Electric Light and Power, which is owned by the city, said a limiter was placed on Schur’s electrical line.
The device limits the power that reaches a home, and it blows out like a fuse if power consumption rises past a set level.
The manager of Bay City said the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body.
The city manager said city workers keep the limiter on a house for 10 days, then shut off power entirely if the homeowner hasn't paid utility bills or arranged to do so.
A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on Schur told TV5 and WNEM.com that Schur died a painful death due to the hypothermia.
Dr. Kanu Varani has done hundreds of autopsies, and he said he’d never seen a person die of hypothermia indoors.
A neighbor who lives across the street from Schur is angered that the city didn’t personally notify the elderly man about his utility situation.
Schur’s neighbor, Herndon, said Schur had a utility bill on his kitchen table with a large amount of money clipped to it, with the intention of paying that bill.
Right now the city said the situation is still under investigation. Marvin Schur was a World War II veteran.
A memorial service for him will take place Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Gephart Funeral Home in Bay City.
We do get to live by the words we speak, so at 93 hope you got the ability to click your reset.
It is tragic what happened, but as you say, we really don't have any way of knowing for sure all the circumstances behind this case. And, I bet you that fact won't stop our some of our fellow Freepers from dreaming up all kinds of facts not in evidence.
All utilities have rules that prevent shut-offs in temperatures below a certain amount (written into the rules). So, he wouldn’t have had the power cut off during a freeze. It doesn’t happen that way, at all...
He just didn’t reset the breaker...
no the don’t I Know of the electric company here who were rude etc to an elderly guy and he could not afford his bill so we paid for it in the end though the winter
maybe if people never had the screw attitude and I’m alright Jack then vets like this guy would not be dead
I don’t expect to make 93 and I’m ready to go at any time, anyway...
Make sure you know where your reset button is.
Won’t help if you can’t feed it.
Sorry but I’m tired of seeing people make remarks while doing nothing to solve the problem. I’ve spent my life trying to help others. I believe in teaching by example.Show me a person I will show them how to help themselves. If they are unable I will do it myself to help them.
I'm absolutely appalled by some of the comments on the other threads - especially the ones that are posted by Freepers that identify themselves as "Christians" and "Conservatives" on their homepages.....disgusting!
agreed I am reading a few posts on here by one person who doesn’t give a rats arse about this vet .
seems his life is good so screw everyone else.
The greed and selfishness along with ignorance is astounding to me.
I hate to hear of a vet of any war or service in this position while others couldn’t careless or illegals and layabouts take what isn’t there’s.
According to the medical examiner in the video story it was a very “painful death”.
I posted a quote from the City Manager (from the article) which indicated a policy that included shutting off power entirely.
You disagree with that by relating to me what the dead man did (or did not) do. Did you interview the dead man? Do you have grounds for assserting that the power was NOT shut off entirely?
Don't tell me I'm wrong -- tell the City Manager that he is wrong.
Just look at the last election results for Bay County, Michigan. The local government is filled with peace loving comrade Democrats. Our comrade president would be proud.
I’m reporting what I read, just like you’ve read stuff too. I’ll keep posting what I’ve read, and I guess you will too...
good attitude and I hear you.
I beleve in helping others espcially vets. they risked their life and it is only right for me to do what I can.
I’m a vet also but if it wasn’t for the brave men and women before me I might not be here.
Maybe those selfish stuck up their own arse should remember that
You said — “Make sure you know where your reset button is.”
That’s one of the first things I do in a new place. I do know where the resets are... and the other utility shut-offs. I’ve had to deal with shutting off water, gas, electric, and phone wires, cable wires, and you name it. I usually know where they all are... and I can work on all of them...
I’ve seen people nearly die in the arctic from the cold, I can only imagine the pain and anguish he went through,.
years ago he risked his life wanting this to be a better country etc and I bet he never thought the country would turn so selfish to some, so ignorant to many , and to I’m alright Jack attitude.
he must have thought as he was dying was it worth it seeing my buddies die and me nearly getting killed
Right now the city said the situation is still under investigation. Marvin Schur was a World War II veteran.
What a sad story. Prayers for Marvin Schur. And thank you for your service to our country, sir.
And if you are 93 and do not remember then I guess tough luck????
That I do. That is why, while you will find no stronger supporter of the military than I am, I have never liked preferential treatment for veterans.
You think the breaker could be reset by someone other than a utility man? I’ll bet not.
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