A homeowner from Texas, believed to be in his mid-70s, was discovered buried under piles of debris in his own residence. He had not been seen or heard from for several months.
According to KTRK News., when Houston police and fire crews arrived at the house on a wellness check on Friday, they were greeted with rats, a strong foul odor, and a home filled with hoarded trash at the door.
Miller, in an interview with KTRK News, expressed his astonishment at the unpredictable turn of events. “You think you’ve seen everything, and then you realize you haven’t,” he mused. He was taken aback by the unexpected collapse of the boxes, admitting, “I didn’t think we would get all the boxes out of the way. They just caved in on him.”
The search of the home was delayed due to health and safety concerns. The house was so full of garbage that there was reportedly no place to walk, requiring the use of hazmat suits, masks, and gloves.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences removed the man’s body after it was discovered, in order to determine the cause of death. As of now, the identity of the man has not been released.
According to KTRK News, neighbors of the home were well aware of the man’s hoarding issue. They had previously made an effort to assist him, but their attempts were halted when a state agency insisted on exterminating the rats that had infested his home. The man saw these rats as his pets.
The strong smell coming from the house became impossible to overlook, prompting the homeowner’s association board member, Luis Miranda, to investigate. As soon as he knocked on the door and opened the screen door, he was instantly hit with the powerful odor.
According to KTRK News, the responsibility of clearing out and cleaning the home will most likely fall on the HOA. Miranda expresses his regrets and mentions that both he and the HOA wish they could have assisted the man earlier.
“It’s really heartbreaking. There’s no one here to take responsibility for him or even inquire about his well-being,” Miranda shared with KTRK News. “We genuinely tried our best, but unfortunately, we reached a dead end. We exhausted all avenues, including seeking assistance from the city, but couldn’t find any help for him.”
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