I think the little old lady across the street might be dead.

[MonkeyFunk]

Seriously.

There's an overturned lawn chair in her drive that's been there for about a week. She's usually outside in a flash if a leaf blows the wrong direction on her sidewalk. I haven't seen any lights on at her place in the past few days either, and I'm getting worried.

I'm fairly new to the neighborhood, but I know that she has a daughter who visits on occasion. I don't have the daughter's name or phone number so there's nobody to call aside from the police.

Here's the problem: If I call the police to bash in her front door, and she's just been away for a little while, she'll be super-pissed when she gets back home to find a broken door and an invitation to the burglers. If she's in there and already dead, I don't guess that she'll mind waiting a while longer for people to find her.

Do I:

Mind my own business?
Continue to keep an eye out for a while longer?
Call the police to break her door down?

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Call the police.

I'm an ex-cop--- trust me on this one.

:)

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Can I ask the police to NOT break her door?

They have locksmiths that they can call, right?

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. They'll handle it properly.

:)

[XanaDUer]

11. Call them and say that you're worried and why

could it be that she told other neighbors you don't know to watch her house because she went out of town?

Can the police ask these neighbors the same thing.

Now, if the scene looks weird, and it looks like she is in there injured, they may have to break down the door.

[XanaDUer]

2. I thought our neighbor was dead.

It turned out she wasn't , but we were about to call the police after it seemed she disappeared off the face of the earth.

YOu can call the cops if you are worried. That is what good neighbors do when they are worried.

[DebJ]

4. call the police who may have other options: finding relatives

or does she attend a church, have they seen her? Have you tried just knocking on her door? Maybe the police can get her phone number. Has she ever called 911?

[Texasgal]

5. Call the police!

This is the best thing to do.

[babylonsister]

7. I'd call, too.

HAve you tried knocking first? If she's alive, your concern might/should be appreciated.

[MonkeyFunk]

10. I'm pretty sure she won't answer.

for one reason or another.

[Fridays Child]

8. Call the cops. I don't think they'll bash her door in.

[WI_DEM]

9. She might be out of town

but why not just go over and knock on the door and if she answers just say you wanted to make sure she was ok like a good neighbor. Does it look like mail is starting to accumulate or can you tell?

[MonkeyFunk]

I haven't noticed any accumulation of mail.

I'll ask the mailman tomorrow. He seems like a good guy.

[MissB]

12. Call the cops

Definitely.

If she is dead, the family would actually thank you for this. If not, they'll still appreciate you caring.

[swimmernsecretsea]

13. Call the police

It's better to be embarrassed than feel guilt later. Believe me, you can live with the embarrassment, and she might actually feel grateful that someone cares.
I've worried about my own mother, living alone. I have had nightmares where she's been dead for a few days. I would hope the neighbors she has around her will do something like call the police over what turns out to be nothing.
Ohh. Now I want you to call just for my own piece of mind.

[swimmernsecretsea]

14. Call the police

It's better to be embarrassed than feel guilt later. Believe me, you can live with the embarrassment, and she might actually feel grateful that someone cares.
I've worried about my own mother, living alone. I have had nightmares where she's been dead for a few days. I would hope the neighbors she has around her will do something like call the police over what turns out to be nothing.
Ohh. Now I want you to call just for my own piece of mind.

[CatBoreal]

15. Go across the street and knock????

If there's no answer, then call the police.

[radwriter0555]

48. Eactly. Check the mail box, see if the mail's not been collected, walk

around and see IF SHE IS THERE.

That's what neighbors do. Don't waste the police's time unless you're sure something's wrong.

Just be a neighbor, and if she comes out, tell her you were worried.

[kikiek]

16. Could have fallen and broken a hip.

[MonkeyFunk]

17. You guys are right. I think I'll call the cops.

I hope she's OK.

Thanks everyone. This is scary.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

20. Let us know. Better safe than sorry.

[Taxloss]

22. She won't be angry.

She'll be pleased a neighbour is keeping an eye out.

Please keep us informed.

[Bunny]

18. Call the police. Tonight. Please.

She could be lying inside with a broken hip, clinging to life. She could be dead. She could be out of town. But someone should find this out NOW. The cops will know what to do - this will not be their first time with something like this. Call.

[Floogeldy]

19. Go knock on the door. If no answer, call the cops

Stop putting it off. She may be in there injured.

[Sydnie]

21. Let us know if she is ok, ok? n/t

[seriousstan]

23. Don't neighbors knock on doors any more?

Why bring the police into before you take the action of walking across the street and knocking on the door?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Have you knocked on her door?

I'd try that first. It could be that she's ill and can't move around enough to take care of her yard. You might also check with your other neighbors to find out if they've seen her. It'd be someone else to confer with about calling the police, too.

If she doesn't answer, and neighbors haven't seen her, I'd call the police. Better to have a bashed in door and be safe.

[Floogeldy]

25. I had a client who didn't appear for his court date on a Monday

It was odd because he was always very prompt for our appointments. I went to his apartment and knocked on the door. No answer. While standing there, for a split second, I caught a whiff of a bad smell. I couldn't believe what I was thinking - - - OMG, is he in there, dead?

I got in my car and left, still wondering whether I should do something. After a minute, it occurred to me that I should call a buddy of mine, who is a deputy sheriff. I pulled up to a pay phone, called him and explained what was going on. The first words out of his mouth were, "Did you smell anything?" I replied, "Yes, but the odor was not constant." He immediately asked for the address and told me to meet him there in fifteen minutes.

When he arrived, we banged on the door. Still no answer. We went to the manager's office and instructed him to get the key and open the door. I stood outside the manager's office while he and the deputy went to open the door. They walked around the corner into the breezeway. Twenty seconds later, they came walking back very quickly. I could tell by the way they were looking at me that my worst fears were realized.

They guy had blown his brains out in bed. You've never seen a parking lot fill up so fast with cop cars, ambulances, fire department rescue and, finally, coroner's vehicles. With the door open, the odor was indescribable. I will never forget that smell.

The cops gave me the guy's wallet and a few other personal effects.

I found out later that he had called his girlfriend on Friday night and recorded his fatal act on her telephone answering machine, for spite, while she was out of town for the weekend.

[smbolisnch]

27. OMG, what an absolutely horrible story.

That's just terrible. :(

[Blue Diadem]

28. So sorry you had to go through that.

I can't imagine what his girlfriend must be going through.

[Floogeldy]

31. Thanks

It definitely scarred my psyche, at least temporarily.

But you're correct - - - It is really his girlfriend that has surely gone through hell.

[salin]

68. How awful...

best wishes to all whose lives were touched ... how horrible.

[RebelOne]

72. Sounds like what I experienced when

I discovered my next door neighbor dead. She had been dead for 5 days and I will never forget the smell.

[Tsiyu]

80. Geez

You probably saved that gal the horror of going to find him that way herself.

What a trip life can be. And death, too.

[barb162]

108. My cousin's kid, around 30 and in great shape had the flu and

he mixed his medication with booze. He died overnight and his buddies could't understand why he didn't come to work; he had perfect attendance. They went to his door and had the apt. manager open it. It was a very very sad funeral.

[Bunny]

26. Kicking.

I want to know what happened to the neighbor lady.

[loudestchick]

29. Horror story here--my neighbor pulled a disappearing act for three days

another neighbor called the police...turned out, he'd had a stroke in his favorite chair and had been unable to move. The idea of him sitting there for three days still haunts me.

[Floogeldy]

33. Now that is disturbing***

[Lisa0825]

63. My mom had an anuerysm at home in bed, and was stuck in bed 24 hours.

I called her three times, and it was unusual for her to not return my calls promptly. I called and left her a message saying I was worried about her, and I was coming down there to check on her, and if she could hear me and was OK, to wait there anyway. She managed to reach the phone that time, and when she answered, her speech was impaired, and she was obviously disoriented. I called 911 and met her at the hospital.

The doctors said later that if I hadn't gotten her to the hospital that night, she would probably not have survived. I only got one more year with her after that (due to other health issues), but that last year was very precious.

ALWAYS act on your instinct when youare worried about someone. It could save a life.

[BikeWriter]

71. Thank goodness she made it to the phone! You did good. :-)

[Az]

30. Um, have you tried knocking on the door?

And the cops don't have to knock the door down. They can pick the lock.

[Floogeldy]

32. MonkeyFunk seems to be afraid of something

Its not your fault, Monkey. You won't get into trouble or get involved if you knock on her door or notify the police. Please do something.

Thanks,

Floog

[tanyev]

34. Any other neighbors who might know more about her?

Ask them if they know anything.

[RebelOne]

35. Another horror story--call the police as soon as possible.

I experienced the same thing. I had noticed that my next door neighbor's car had not moved for over a week. I knew that she worked nights and I thought that maybe she had car trouble and was getting a ride to work. But finally I called the sheriff's department and asked them to come out. She had a dog which did not like any one in uniform. The sheriff's deputies had to break open the back bedroom window. I went in the window because I knew the dog would attack anyone in uniform. Well, I went into the front bedroom and found my neighbor dead. So I strongly advise that you call the police as soon as possible.

[smbolisnch]

39. OMG

I have an elderly next door neighbor that is like a grandmother to me. I am always checking on her if her lights are on too late etc. These stories are terrible! :cry:

[-..__...]

36. Call the fire department.

tell them it's a "check on welfare" call... I do these all the time.

Sometimes the concerns are genuine and they've been decomposing for weeks... sometimes they're on vacation. You never know.

Unless you have an over reactive FD, the guys responding will find the easiest way in (usually just popping a window), and cause as little damage as possible.

[tyedyeto]

37. Please make that phone call.......

Living next to a retirement community where there are so many single elderly people, it's always good to have someone looking out if something terrible did happen. I know of one person who fell and broke a leg and was not able to reach the phone. Laid there for several days before he was found.....dehydrated but generally okay.

[Cornjob]

38. Happened to my neighbor - call the police!

They will not bash the door down. They got a locksmith to open the front door.

Unfortunately old Dick (my neighbor) had died a couple days earlier while watching TV.

The coroner took over from the cops.

[TOhioLiberal]

40. Call someone...

...please. I was a carrier for our local daily paper. I delivered to this old guy's house. The door was open and I could hear the TV. It was a nice morning (early summer) so I didn't think anything of it.

The next day, the door was standing open, TV on; paper from yesterday still on the porch. I was worried at this point. After finishing my route, I mentioned it to Mr. TOhioLib and he suggested I call 911. Set my mind at ease, as he put it.

It was the strangest feeling, hearing the sirens as they went towards his house. Found out the next day that he had suffered a heart attack and died. Was dead for about 3 days.

So call someone. If nothing's wrong, she'll at least know that you're looking out for her.

[koneko]

41. Kicked

Please let us know if everything's OK with your neighbor. You're doing the right thing, calling. If she's OK, you may want to deal w/ the awkwardness of calling by suggesting you take her daughter's number, or something. I'm sure she'd be thankful to know someone's watching out for her.

[bushcrab]

42. go throw some leaves on her sidewalk

[Floogeldy]

43. FunkyMonkey? Come out, come out wherever you are.

Kick

[Book Lover]

44. kicking

Please let us know what's happened!

[tuvor]

45. Kick.

I hope she's all right.

[LiberallyInclined]

46. talk to her neighbors...

you say that you're new to the neighborhood, and you live across the street-
it may be that she's out of town, and she may have told a neighbor that she's closer to, to keep an eye on the house while she's gone.

[Chalco]

47. I called the police when my neighbors dog barked for 2 hours from

the inside of their house at 1am. Very unusual. The police came and broke in by breaking a pane of glass in the front door. Turned out nothing was wrong. They were on vacation (cars were still there) and the dog somehow had gotten locked out of the bedroom and kept barking.

I thought they'd be pissed at me when they got back from vacation but actually thanked me for being concerned.

In regards to the broken window pane they said they break it all the time themselves because they lock themselves out frequently and then replace it.

So yes, call the cops.

[RebelOne]

49. Have you called the police yet?

Please keep us posted.

[Bunny]

50. Kicking.

kick

[RebelOne]

51. Kicking again. I want to know what has happened.

[RPM]

52. sooooo? What happened

don't keep us all in suspense

[kittycat1164]

53. WELL????????????? n/t

[kick-ass-bob]

54. I know. the suspense is killing me.

[cabbage08]

55. Me too..........

[CatBoreal]

56. I am slowly going crazy. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 SWITCH...

I'm waiting......

Crazy going slowly am I. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, SWITCH.....

[dubyaD40web]

57. Kick

I want to know too!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

58. As a daughter in law who wished someone had done this for her...

I hope you did call.

My father in law shot himself at home. The neighbors heard "something" (he shot himself with a .44, which is quite a something to hear) but decided not to investigate or call the police. They knew my husband stopped by quite often. My husband had had a horrid fight with my father in law a couple of weeks before and hadn't seen him. (my father in law was an alcoholic always asking for money, not wanting to seek help, and my husband was trying "tough love") Father's Day came and my husband broke down and went to visit him...only to find a horrid scene. How I wish the neighbors had done something to spare him that image.

I hope all is well with your neighbor.

[Az]

59. I think something may have happened to MonkeyFunk

Seriously.

Maybe he went to check on the lil ole lady and she went ape on the monkey. Does anyone know how to contact Monkey so we can make sure he is ok? Should we call the police? The firedept? His ISP? I feel so helpless.

[Speck Tater]

61. I've seen stuff like this on Twilight Zone

Somebody walks into a house and then can't get out again. One by one the whole town gets trapped in the house as each person goes in to check on the others.

Seriously, I'd like to know what's happening too.

[Danmel]

60. Well? Nu?

What did you find out?


kicking.........

[MonkeyFunk]

62. Update (sort of)

I called the police and they thanked me and said that they'd check it out. That's really all I know right now. I'll post an update if I find out anything.

Thanks, everybody.

[cabbage08]

69. Thnaks. Let us know if anything else happens

[progmom]

73. update?

Let us know if you hear anything!

[Book Lover]

94. Thanks for letting us know

And thank you for calling the cops.

[Floogeldy]

64. Way to go Monkey!

[CatBoreal]

65. Anything???

:kick:

[hedgehog]

66. kick

I hope she's OK. I called the cops in another city one time to check on a friend - She was embaressed but I think I prevented a suicide.

[Az]

67. Its too quiet

Where the funk is MonkeyFunk?

[Cooley Hurd]

70. I hope she doesn't have cats...

An old woman died down the street from me when I was a kid, and wasn't found for a week. She had a bunch of cats which, needless to say, were well-fed between the time of her demise and the time she was discovered...:puke:

[CatBoreal]

74. Still waiting.....

Any word???

[paula777]

75. waiting ....

[MonkeyFunk]

76. I STILL don't know anything.

I can only assume that the cops checked it out, but I doubt that they are willing to let me know what (if anything) has happened. I'll post an update as soon as I can.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

89. Thanks MonkeyFunk!

:hi:

[Floogeldy]

77. Is something amiss here?

MonkeyFunk must be a very busy person, or something. Did he call the cops and then leave his house?

I hope our chains aren't getting yanked here.

It doesn't take this long to find out if there is a dead body in the house across the street from you.

[MonkeyFunk]

79. I resent that.

I've not posted anything regarding this that is false. Here's a breakdown just for you:

I noticed a problem across the street and became worried.
I asked for some advice.
I followed that advice.
I was thanked by the cops and told that they'd "look into it"
I posted what I knew.
I was called a liar by some asshat.

I'm not yanking anyone's chain. I'm seriously worried and I don't know what else to do at this point.

Fer cryin' out loud.

[qnr]

82. Um, he didn't call you a liar. He just expressed the fact that he

was wondering.

[Floogeldy]

83. Would you mind . . .

. . . walking across the street and knocking on her door, or go ask a neighbor if an ambulance, police cars, or the coroner's office came to the lady's house?

A lot of folks here are kind of in the grips of this story.

Thanks,

Floog

[MonkeyFunk]

88. I don't think anyone will answer if I knock.

No lights have been on in a week. I'll try, but I doubt that I'll find out any more at this point. Right now, I can only hope that she's visiting with her daughter.

I'll post what I know when I find out something. I promise.

[Tsiyu]

84. Well that was certainly rude

[bobbobbins]

78. My mother fell down the steps in the dark about 3 years ago...

broke her back and leg...couldn't move, laid at the foot of the steps screaming for help for 2 days. Banged on the wall and yelled for someone to call 911. Finally my aunt came by to visit and found her, luckily she was ok. Later we questioned the neighbor to see if he heard anything(she lives in a townhouse). He said he heard it all and just figured it was a domestic dispute, and didn't want to be involved. What a fucking low life scum.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

81. How is your mom?

I'm sorry to hear your story. We got to look out for each other in this world.

[bobbobbins]

86. Shes doing much better now...but it was a long hard recovery for her

she had to get a steel rod implanted all the way up her back...and the surgeon they gave her wasn't a good one i guess, because a year and a half later it broke, and they had to re-operate to put a new one in, and the new surgeon said the other guy made some bad moves. But anyway, after two major operations and about a year and a half of physical therapy, shes (almost) as good as new.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

87. Thats good to hear.

I sure hope this elderly woman is okay.

[Maine-ah]

85. kick

I want to know what happened! keep kicking!!!

[HeyManThatsCool]

90. WELL??? Any word on what happened

[Floogeldy]

91. Not yet

It doesn't appear MonkeyFunk is trying very hard to get us any information.

Maybe he has more important things to do.

[MonkeyFunk]

92. Goddammit. Now that's just rude.

I said that I'd post an update when I know more. I just went across the street and knocked (per your suggestion) and there was no answer. What do you want me to do, break in?

Listen, I understand your reticence and believing some story posted by some anonymous person on a message board, but I'm not in a position to DO anything else at this point. This is really starting to worry me and you're being snarky for no good reason. I'll PM you when I find out something if you'd like, but I'd thank you to stop ragging on me in the meantime.

Jesus!

[Floogeldy]

93. Thanks

I didn't mean to be rude. You don't have to PM me. Post it for the whole board.

I hope it turns out that your neighbor is okay.

Floog

[paula777]

96. Monkey, just post that the cops found her decomposing body and

people will stop harassing you }(

[TheCentepedeShoes]

95. About 2 weeks ago

my BIL and his wife hadn't heard from her son in 2-3 days, went to his apt (with key) and found him dead in bed. Cause of death not yet known. Call the cops, they'll know what to do.

[mr_hat]

97. I'd hire a private dick.

[Floogeldy]

98. Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick

[progmom]

99. kick

any news?

[tralfaz]

100. If it starts to smell really bad...

call the police.

[progmom]

101. kickety kick kick kick

Something? Anything??

[Nikia]

102. Could you check the local paper?

Look in the obituaries since the day after you called the police. If there is a hospital admissions page, check that too.

[WI_DEM]

103. ok, the guy called the cops and he went and knocked on the door

what more do you people want? He said he would post something if he found out anymore. Did it ever occur to anybody that she just might be visiting relatives or something?

[Groggy]

104. He has done all that he can/should

Monkeyfunk did all he can and should do. If the woman has relatives, THEY are the ones who are responsible for her. He has called the police to do a check on her. The responsibility is now with them and the woman's relatives. Who knows--she could either be in the hospital, staying with her family or better yet on a cruise or on a beach somewhere having a nice cold one!

Don't worry!

[progmom]

105. Cool. I just was hoping for a post that said:

"Oh - there she is! She just got back from Aruba! She's just fine!" I'm not trying to torment the OP, I swear!

[enigmatic]

106. I'd like to know, too..

I hope she's ok...

[barb162]

107. my friend's aunt fell off a chair and broke her leg and ribs

and was laying on the floor for THREE days before a relative tried getting in. Call the cops. This lady was standing on the chair putting some crap on some top shelf of a closet. Mail may not be a good clue as some people can go without mail for days.

[Floogeldy]

109. MonkeyFunk could have found out by now

He could have called the cops to see what they found, or asked some neighbors.

[hickman1937]

110. Floo, you really have to get off Monks back.

Humans hate a mystery, but give him some time.

[Cadence]

111. LOL! OMG you are killing me with this. Why are you so

fascinated by this story? ...AND why do I find it so damn funny that you want to know so bad?? :D

[Floogeldy]

112. "I think the little old lady across the street might be dead"

A week later, we don't know jack shit about the "little old lady."

If that's okay with you, then that's okay with me that its okay with you.

That's bullshit, man.

[donheld]

114. Is someone being just a bit of a pain?

Maybe Monkey stopped responding due to harassment.

On Edit: Maybe Monkey is dead, Maybe his neighbor had something catching. please go knock on his door. Hurry up! can you respond please we're waiting. Now go. :crazy:

[orleans]

113. oh my god! who kicked this thread?

it's been a week since it started
i just saw it now for the first time.
she's either way dead by now, into a really good book, or visiting a relative.

i give up.

what's the final outcome here?

and what did you, as the good neighbor, end up doing?

[donheld]

115. Maybe Monkey being a nice neighbor

got stuck making the funeral arrangements. Good deed once again punished.

[seabeyond]

117. bah hahahah, i didnt look and i am saying knock on the door

like that is a hard one to figure. silly me. in future i need to look at the date. lol

[BikeWriter]

119. I agree. Why would someone kick this thread up?

[seabeyond]

116. YOU knock on the door and say hi, not a deal, boy n/t

[noonwitch]

118. Call the Police and ask them to check on her welfare

They do that stuff all the time and don't necessarily break down doors.