Elderly Couple Dies, Trapped in Home Elevator - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 07-16-2010, 07:36 AM

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — When the elevator in their home got stuck between floors, Sherwood and Caroline Wadsworth found themselves trapped with no way to call for help as temperatures rose into the 90s in the closet-sized lift until they finally died from heat exhaustion.

Autopsies on the elderly couple — he was 90, she was 89 — on Thursday pointed to a tragic end to lives they shared for more than 60 years. Police estimated they had been dead at least four days before a newspaper carrier called 911 out of concern that papers had piled up by their garage.

Investigators were trying to determine what turned an elevator into a death trap inside the Wadsworths' three-story home overlooking Georgia's coastal marshes. Stunned family members, meanwhile, looked for a shred of solace.

"We always said we hoped they would go together because if one went, the other wouldn't survive long," the couple's son, Wesley Wadsworth of Blue Bell, Penn., said Thursday. "They were so dependent on each other."

The newspaper carrier called police Wednesday after noticing the unopened editions going back to July 9, as well as an untouched watermelon a neighbor had left at the couple's door the day before.

Police had to break into the house because the doors were locked and bolted. Inside they found no one but the Wadsworths' cat. Then they noticed the elevator — accessed by what looked like closet doors with up-and-down arrow buttons in the walls. Once the shaft was open, they found the elevator stuck between the home's second and third floor.

Police discovered the Wadsworths' bodies lying in a fetal position, facing each other, Glynn County coroner Jimmy Durden said Thursday. Autopsies concluded both died from heat exhaustion. Durden estimated temperatures in the elevator reached 95 degrees.

catlover79 · 07-17-2010, 02:22 PM

Holy cow!! Those poor people.

ZeldaGilroy · 07-17-2010, 02:37 PM

How sad.

May they rest in peace.

OH Nuts! · 07-17-2010, 02:43 PM

How horrible -the poor couple

catlover79 · 07-17-2010, 04:14 PM

The only good thing...at least they went together. I know that sounds morbid, but I hope you all know what I mean.

Marvo301 · 07-17-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The only good thing...at least they went together. I know that sounds morbid, but I hope you all know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean and I agree. That is the one blessing in this whole situation. May this couple

Waterston_Fan · 07-18-2010, 09:22 PM

I guess there was no power outage?

80sTrivia · 07-19-2010, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The only good thing...at least they went together. I know that sounds morbid, but I hope you all know what I mean.

I thought the same thing, Monika...

07-16-2010, 07:36 AM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	Elderly Couple Dies, Trapped in Home Elevator ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — When the elevator in their home got stuck between floors, Sherwood and Caroline Wadsworth found themselves trapped with no way to call for help as temperatures rose into the 90s in the closet-sized lift until they finally died from heat exhaustion. Autopsies on the elderly couple — he was 90, she was 89 — on Thursday pointed to a tragic end to lives they shared for more than 60 years. Police estimated they had been dead at least four days before a newspaper carrier called 911 out of concern that papers had piled up by their garage. Investigators were trying to determine what turned an elevator into a death trap inside the Wadsworths' three-story home overlooking Georgia's coastal marshes. Stunned family members, meanwhile, looked for a shred of solace. "We always said we hoped they would go together because if one went, the other wouldn't survive long," the couple's son, Wesley Wadsworth of Blue Bell, Penn., said Thursday. "They were so dependent on each other." The newspaper carrier called police Wednesday after noticing the unopened editions going back to July 9, as well as an untouched watermelon a neighbor had left at the couple's door the day before. Police had to break into the house because the doors were locked and bolted. Inside they found no one but the Wadsworths' cat. Then they noticed the elevator — accessed by what looked like closet doors with up-and-down arrow buttons in the walls. Once the shaft was open, they found the elevator stuck between the home's second and third floor. Police discovered the Wadsworths' bodies lying in a fetal position, facing each other, Glynn County coroner Jimmy Durden said Thursday. Autopsies concluded both died from heat exhaustion. Durden estimated temperatures in the elevator reached 95 degrees.

07-17-2010, 02:22 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	Holy cow!! Those poor people.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-17-2010, 02:37 PM	#3
ZeldaGilroy Dobie and Zelda Forever!!! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: I don't know...I'm probably lost! Posts: 4,148	How sad. May they rest in peace.
	__________________ *Formerly FactsFan* "I always carry a spare wedding ring. A single girl never knows when lightning may strike." ~Zelda Gilroy

07-17-2010, 02:43 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	How horrible -the poor couple

07-17-2010, 04:14 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	The only good thing...at least they went together. I know that sounds morbid, but I hope you all know what I mean.

07-18-2010, 09:22 PM	#7
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	I guess there was no power outage?