The cause of death of a 66-year-old Connecticut woman who was found dead after her first floor collapsed has been revealed, the Associated Press reported.
Beverly Mitchell, of Cheshire, Connecticut, was found dead in her home's basement underneath a pile of debris. The weight of the debris and collapsed floor and crushed Mitchell to death, medical officials said Tuesday.
The office of the Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Mitchell, who reportedly was a hoarder, died of accidental and traumatic asphyxia, the AP reported.
Authorities believe Mitchell had been dead for a week before rescue workers were able to cut a hole in the side of the home and dig through ceiling-high piles of rubbish on Saturday. A postal worker noticed last week that her mail had been piling up and alerted police.
Neighbors said Mitchell was a severe hoarder who moved into the house decades ago.
Officers who checked on Mitchell's wellbeing over the last several years asked if she needed help from social services, but she always said no, Sergeant Kevin O'Donnell told the AP. The sergeant said they did not know the extent of the hoarding until they entered the home last Thursday.
"There is several feet of clutter throughout the entire house, anywhere from 4 to 8 feet high," Cheshire Fire Chief Jack Casner told the AP.
Casner said the house has been designated "unfit for human occupancy" and is now boarded up with plywood.
Mitchell was in the basement when the first floor collapsed under the weight of the litter. Officials also said rain that might have fallen through holes in the roof could have weakened the floor.
"I was surprised with what I witnessed," Casner told the AP. "It's unfortunate that someone was in those conditions."
Authorities are currently deciding whether or not to tear down the house. Investigators are also in the process of tracking down Mitchell's next of kin.
© 2025 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
