Cold outside in a cold world

MSNBC:

BAY CITY, Mich. - A 93-year-old man froze to death inside his home just days after the municipal power company restricted his use of electricity because of unpaid bills, officials said.

Marvin E. Schur died "a slow, painful death," said Kanu Virani, Oakland County's deputy chief medical examiner, who performed the autopsy.

Neighbors discovered Schur's body on Jan. 17. They said the indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time, The Bay City Times reported Monday.

Bay City Electric Light and Power had placed a device on Mr. Schur's electric meter to shut off his power when he went over whatever amount they had decided to allow him. A manager for the utility company said he didn't think they had done anything wrong, and pointed the blame at the dead man's neighbors:

"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors," Belleman said. "When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."

Pathetic, and it ought to be criminal, assuming it isn't already.

Update: Mr. Schur was also a WWII Veteran. Heads should roll.

-Diane