November 20, 2009

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

93-Year-Old Michigan Man Dies After City Turns Off Power To Home (AP)

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By Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 26, 2009 at 2:46 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 28, 2009 at 7:49 AM CST

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.

The company had put a "limiter" device in the home because of the unpaid bills. 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 says the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body.

The body of Marvin Schur was discovered on January 17th. According to the Bay City Times, neighbors who found his body said the indoor temperature was below freezing.

Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner says Schur died a "slow, painful death" from hypothermia.

The city manager says 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.

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Friday, Jan 30 at 11:24 AM Apalled wrote ...

Everyone at the electric company should have their electricty shut off for ten days and see how they fair. City's are a form of government that are supposed to look out for and protect their citizens. When the city knew there was a problem, they should have reported the problem to the elderly division of social services to see if there was some kind of aide that this man could of received. Obviously, there was an issue here.

Thursday, Jan 29 at 8:05 PM dear lex wrote ...

You are heartless...I hope and pray nothing ever happens to you and you need help. Because if it does I doubt you will get help. you are a mean and cruel person.

Thursday, Jan 29 at 7:35 PM Ced wrote ...

My Dad pays his bills and takes care of his biz before he goes to sleep at night. He didn't pay his bill for months. What, is the electric company supposed to just let it go? If he would have starved to death, would it have been McDonalds fault? He should have taken responsibility, he didn't, now he's dead. Rest in peace, and learn your lesson.

Thursday, Jan 29 at 7:23 PM Miller native wrote ...

I think someone should write congress, the president, anyone who will listen... this is RIDICULOUS... you don't treat your elders this way.. that was something i learned years and years ago! tragic that this world is coming to the means it is... AMERICA THE FREE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Thursday, Jan 29 at 5:30 PM Toni Eckert wrote ...

This should embarass the whole nation.

Thursday, Jan 29 at 12:54 PM Miller Native wrote ...

This sickens me! An elderly man who no doubt worked his whole life for little to nothing... has to die because of a measly 1000-GOD help the people who were MADE to put that limiter on there. Im sure it was not out of choice and if it was WOW... PRAY.. PRAY PRAY!

Thursday, Jan 29 at 11:24 AM WOW wrote ...

In this article it says nothing to the extent of he had no family! If you did read this in the article can you point it out to me? Please

Thursday, Jan 29 at 10:39 AM Tammy wrote ...

I am from Illinois and can tell you I am outraged at the way our elderly are treated. some of our elderly people don't know there aer funds out there that can help them because the money hungry people dont want them to know. the city should be be put on trial for "MURDER" because that is what this is. So many elderly have no money but yet worked all their life and this is how they are repaid. Well all I can say to them is what comes around goes around and I hope they get theirs!!!

Thursday, Jan 29 at 9:28 AM tim wrote ...

I hope the guy that made the decision to cut the power grows old and suffers an long and painful death. I live in the south and we have had folks here in Tx have problems like this but the power company always finds a way to take care of it. i'm glad I live in TX......

Thursday, Jan 29 at 9:18 AM Janie B wrote ...

I'm am so sadden by this terrible news...my Dad was also a Vet. with a Pruple Heart Medal..and we should be paying their light bill for the sacrifice they made for our freedom!!! but instead we killed this poor helpless man...God help us...

Wednesday, Jan 28 at 9:45 PM the young and the healthy wrote ...

hahaha this is hillarious!

Wednesday, Jan 28 at 9:05 PM Lex wrote ...

"The manager of Bay City says the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body." ??? that could be anytime! and maybe he should have made his payments, then he would still be alive. nobodies fault but his own

Wednesday, Jan 28 at 1:06 PM Curt wrote ...

This story made me angry and sick. There should be crimal charges file against the manager of the utility company . This is suppose to be the greatest country in the world, what a joke after reading this sad and tragic story. I wonder if Mr. Schur was a veteran ? This pratice must stop,, all utilities must change there policies, espically geard towards the elderly. They did this in the middle of winter. Every citizen in this country should be angry. Send a letter to the Manager.

Wednesday, Jan 28 at 12:37 PM Diane wrote ...

This was sad when I first heard about it and still so after reading what the utility company had to say. This man was a WWII veteran that served his country and this is what one city has done to show their gratitude? It's sad that he died alone, painfully, slowly and all for the love of money by greed on behalf of utility companies! He was 93 years old. Does the company in this city not have a board of public utilities to provide energy assistance or are they not familiar with LIHEAP?? Good God!

Wednesday, Jan 28 at 1:50 AM Jet Thomas wrote ...

AttaBoy, BayCityElectricLight&Power! You and everyone at Customer Service should all be fired. I am writing Congress about you!

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 10:28 PM your kiddding wrote ...

Only in America. How flipping stupid is this. That poor man should not of died by freezing. Shame on you people your day will come. Hang your heads in shame this was a cruel act and the city should be punished.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 8:28 PM Me wrote ...

Hey Ced ? Are you really that HEARTLESS?? What if this were your dad?

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 5:43 PM Joslin ( electrician in Detroit, Mich. ) wrote ...

Will any prosecutor bring murder charges against the utility and/or the municipal authorities who committed the homicide? Don't hold your breath. Oh yeah, like one person already noted above, this "system" we have in the U.S.A. ranks down there among the worst on the planet. Pitiful. Past time to escape to Canada !

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 4:13 PM disgusted wrote ...

"Mr. Schur owed Bay City Electric Light and Power more than $1,000, said Robert Belleman, the city manager. Mr. Belleman said that the utility’s policies would be reviewed, but that he did not believe the city had done anything wrong" I sure hope Mr.Belleman can sleep well at night!If not for our seniors, where would we be now? They paved the way for us, and this is the thanks they get? You should be ashamed!Your mother should be ashamed for raising an ignorant man like you!

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 3:28 PM Ced wrote ...

Pay your bills and this won't happen to you. Lesson learned.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 2:52 PM Betty wrote ...

Isn't this an example of criminally negligent homicide? I think a good prosecutor could make the case.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 11:14 AM sugarbear wrote ...

To the electric company, Will you get your $1000 now? Now that the poor man is dead. I guess it is on your conscience not anybody else. Maybe some day it will be somebody you know. Get a clue.....

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 10:27 AM Glenda wrote ...

If you had read the article right he had no family- He was an all alone with no one to help him. Isn't this someone who surely needed a bailout?????? Wasn't there some sort of crime committed here by the electric co as well as a crime committed by the city officals who let something like this happen? Rest in peace Sir.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 10:23 AM Holly wrote ...

OH my god. Thsi sicken me. I can't believe the city allows the power to be removed during the winter months of ANY ONE let alone an elderly man. I hope some one makes them pay and pay big so this policy is changed now.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 10:18 AM Mike MIkha wrote ...

I hope these jerks are prode of theire stuiped shut off switch they had on his house. HOW MUCH DID THEY GIVE THE CAR COMPANIES AGAIN?

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 9:58 AM CStern wrote ...

Pathetic!!! I work in Customer Service with an electric coop in TX. I always check our members age when helping with their account. We have numbers of agencies that help lower income, elderly people. This is unacceptable!!! Hope it doesn't happen to one of THEIR family members

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 9:12 AM Anonymous wrote ...

That's the saddest thing i have heard in a while. After 93 years what a horrible way to go.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 9:05 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The City can be proud of themselves on this one.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 8:59 AM Me wrote ...

I smell a LAW SUIT!

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 8:11 AM Chuck in Minnesota wrote ...

This is what our country of greed has come to. Well Corp. spend $50 million on new luxury jet with you tax dollars from Gov bailout. Then we let our elderly die and suffer. May the good Lord make them all pay come judgment day!!! What has happened to our once great America? GREED AND POWER..THAT'S WHAT

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 8:11 AM Griffin wrote ...

Capitalism....not good for the elderly. Very sad. Too old to work. Alone. No money. Freezing. Capitalist country= death. Welcome to the real America. Not a dream but a nightmare for many.

Tuesday, Jan 27 at 6:16 AM Jill wrote ...

I can't believe that this is the way our elderly are treated!!!! Did they take the time to make sure that he knew what was going on?? As far as I'm concerned, this is elderly abuse!!!! Something NEEDS to be done! No Electric Co. should be allowed to operate that way. Way to much power in the hands of idiots!!!! But then, you can't fix stupid.

Monday, Jan 26 at 11:29 PM S Rosenbaum wrote ...

Maybe that city should figure out that whatever comes around goes around. An eye for an eye. IDIOTS!!

Monday, Jan 26 at 9:48 PM Money hungry... wrote ...

This sickens me to see an old man die because of 1000.00....seriously is that the price of a life now days...i hope the family sues the heck out of this company...

Monday, Jan 26 at 8:33 PM Ced wrote ...

I can't belief they did that.

Monday, Jan 26 at 7:46 PM Doug wrote ...

That's the pits

Monday, Jan 26 at 6:31 PM Marine wrote ...

Was any attempt made to work out a payment plan? Was this man recieving the federal funds a man of his age should receive to pay his bills. Did anyone care to check if this man was suffering, dying, or dead before neighbors checked on him? God help us if this is the way our citizens are to be treated when they get older. Hopefully this story is missing important information prooving that this is not simply willfull neglect if not abuse.

Monday, Jan 26 at 3:52 PM Heather wrote ...

That is sad, I feel sorry for the family and friends to know that he died a slow and painful death. I think electric companies should be willing to help people out during the winter times.

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