HOUSTON, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether the death of an 82-year-old woman from earlier this week was heat-related.
On Wednesday, July 30, we learned that 82-year-old Carolyn Dalcour was found dead inside her Haverstock Hill Apartment, which is located in the 5600 block of Aldine Bender.
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Although the cause of death has not been released, on Friday, Aug. 1, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Calcour was found inside an “extremely warm apartment,” and his office is now investigating if this was heat-related.
Dalcour’s family also told us that the woman’s HVAC unit was not working.
On July 30, according to KPRC 2 metrologists, it was one of the hottest days of the summer with temperatures hitting 100 degrees for the second time this season.
The Haverstock Hill Apartments, where the woman lived and was found dead, have received several complaints from tenants about safety concerns.
In May, KPRC 2 reported that residents at the same complex were complaining about serious health concerns stemming from extensive mold growth and pest infestations. Residents complained about management being unresponsive, despite their attempts to reach out.
KPRC 2 did visit the leasing office about the ongoing issues, and the staff claimed not to know mold problems and directed tenants to submit work orders online. However, residents said, at the time, that the online system had been ineffective in addressing their concerns.
It’s not clear if Dalcour had put in a work order about the possible broken HVAC unit.
The Houston Health Department advises residents facing ignored health and safety issues to:
- Call 311 to file a formal complaint
- Wait for the health department investigators to inspect the property
The health department maintains the authority to issue citations that would require management to address these hazardous living conditions.