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Elderly Homewood Woman With Broken Heater Refuses To Leave Home

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Mary Thompson is horribly cold. A towel wrapped around her head, a blanket around her body, her hands shaking violently from the chill.

Pittsburgh Police are concerned for her safety, committed to taking her out of her home if they must in order to save her life.

The 93-year-old has no intention of voluntarily going anywhere.

KDKA's Marty Griffin: "How long have you not had the furnace working, ma'am?"

Mary: "I guess a month?"

Her more than 50-year-old furnace is shot, red tagged by the gas company. Her only heat comes from a gas stove in the basement.

She's lived in Homewood in the same home for more than 60 years.

Her friends and family want her out. They called police fearful she could die in this dangerous cold.

"I'm worried about her without the furnace broken, her living here alone. She's not [going to] go nowhere," Beverly Mitchell, Mary's niece, said.

Mary will not listen to family, will not leave. Police do not wish to commit her to a local hospital for evaluation, but will if forced to.

Late Tuesday night, KDKA reached out to a local contractor.

Tudi Mechanical from McKees Rocks rushed in. Workers have brought space heaters for now. Owner Bob Tudi will donate a new furnace in the next few weeks.

"It's tough to see people fall down like that, but we're going to help her," said Richard Riva, of Tudi Mechanical.

Police will not have to take action Tuesday night, convinced Mary will be okay, warm again in a home she has no intention of leaving.

RELATED LINKS:
Locals Help Elderly Woman Living In Crumbling House, Without Heat (12/25/13)
More Homewood News
More Reports by Marty Griffin

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