Cheshire Hoarder Suffocated To Death After Her House Collapsed On Her

The Medical Examiner’s confirmed that Beverly Mitchell, 66, of 22 Winslow Road in Cheshire, died as a result of accidental suffocation when the first floor of her house collapsed on her from the weight of debris she had hoarded over the years, the New Haven Register reports. 

Town officials are still weighing whether Mitchell’s house will have to be demolished because of structural issues, Luther Turmelle, of the Register reports. 

Mitchell was found by emergency responders Saturday buried under debris that had fallen on top of her as the first floor of her house collapsed. 

Emergency responders had to cut a hole in the house and use a backhoe in order to reach her. 

If her house needs to be demolished the town would pay for it but would place a lien on the property to recoup its investment, the Register reports. 

On Tuesday the State Medical Examiner ruled that Mitchell died of accidental and traumatic asphyxia. 

Police say a U.S. Postal employee noticed Beverly Mitchell’s mail had been piling up at her house on Thursday, WFSB TV reports. 

But it took until Saturday morning for local and state authorities to reach Mitchell, who was found in her basement buried under a pile of debris, WFSB reports. 

Mitchell’s first floor was piled waist high with papers and telephone books and other items, WFSB TV reports. The saddest part of this tragedy is no one knows how long Mitchell was buried under all of the debris, WFSB reports.