Latest news with #MaryNotarangelo
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Missing Connecticut detective found dead in 'deplorable' home eight months after vanishing
A missing Connecticut detective who vanished a year ago has been found dead inside her 'deplorable' home, buried in 'mountains' of debris. Mary A. Notarangelo, 73, was last seen alive on June 12, 2024 and was reported missing on July 3 last year by a man who often helped her with tasks around her home in Glastonbury - about 15 minutes outside of Hartford. The retired Bridgeport police detective's skeletal remains were found February 24 - about eight months after she mysteriously disappeared. Officials used a small excavator to access her hoarder home, Marshall Porter, chief of the Glastonbury Police Department, told CT Insider Tuesday. Authorities initially tried to search the home several times prior with a cadaver dog, a drone and staff from the state's environmental agency and biohazard waste collection company, but were not successful, according to Porter. Officers failed to get in the home on their own because of six-foot-tall piles of items, he said, adding that they 'weren't equipped to handle' what was inside. Firefighters also attempted to search for her from the roof, Porter noted. 'I've never seen such deplorable conditions,' Porter said. 'Hoarders usually have paths. But this was like just piled floor to almost ceiling. You literally would have had to climb over stuff.' At one point during the search, a drone used by police to search her home became disabled after it hit cobwebs, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. Dead birds were also found in cages inside the home, along with live mice and a cat roaming around, police said. 'Once inside, I observed more mountains of garbage, cobwebs, and spiders,' Officer Anthony Longo wrote in the report. 'There was no path whatsoever. The only way to move from room to room was by climbing over the garbage.' The man who called police for a welfare check on Notarangelo's home on July 3, 2024, said she last texted him on June 12 complaining of abdominal cramps, vomiting, and told him she had fallen. It's unclear why it took her friend, who did not return phone calls or text messages from her, so long to notify police. It is also unclear why it took so long to find her remains, despite police searching on July 5, July 11, July 12 and November 20 of last year. They also searched the woods around her home, but police were not convinced she ventured out there because she was known to use a walker to get around, Porter stated. Notarangelo appeared to live a very reclusive life in her later years, according to a few people who told ABC News they had trouble getting in contact with her over the past couple of years. On September 17, 2024 a friend posted to Facebook asking the public to help locate Notarangelo. 'My friend Mary Angel Notarangelo has been reported missing. She is [a] former (Retired) Detective Sargent [sic] with the Bridgeport Police Department. Please make this viral,' Patti Steeves wrote. 'I knew she lived in Glastonbury but did not know her street address. I tried to Google her to see if I could find it. It was then [that] I learned of her being missing report. She has been on my mind often recently for me to want to reach out to her, and now I am upset with myself for not doing so sooner.' Steeves went on to reveal that her old friend had a brother, but she could not 'remember his name.' 'She was passionate about her faith. She was passionate about her job. She had a great sense of humor. And she loved her animals. She loved her animals more than she did herself,' Steeves told ABC News. 'It's so upsetting and so sad... She, as quirky as she was, she was a good person at heart.' She said she tried her best to help out her friend with her hoarding habit, and that Notarangelo was a 'bird fanatic' who owned about 20 birds, including cockatiels, parrots and cockatoos. She also owned a cat and dog, Steeves noted. On September 17, 2024 a friend of hers posted to Facebook asking the public to help locate Notarangelo Porter said he feared the $100,000 mission to find her in February would fail, as an environmental services firm that specializes in waste removal brought in 'pokers' to remove the debris one layer at a time. 'They were prepared with equipment and dumpsters to excavate the entire house,' he said, adding that not long into the clean up they found her dead body. Very little is known about Notarangelo, but according to past voting records, she was a registered Independent, per reviewed by CT Insider. The state legislator's judiciary committee approved payment of a claim she made in 2004, but it is unclear how much she received, according to records. She also posted to social media from time to time sharing her love for animals and calling herself an 'intuitive & reiki master,' per ABC News. Notarangelo also posted videos of her on outings with her beloved birds, as one of them was seen perching on a shopping cart while at a craft store, the outlet found.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Retired detective found dead in hoarding conditions in Connecticut, months after she went missing
Mary Notarangelo lived a reclusive life in her later years, according to the few people who had contact with her. The retired police detective tended to her many birds at her Connecticut home and posted videos of them on social media, including one accompanying her on a trip to a local crafts store. But a welfare check request to police last year uncovered disturbing truths. Mary Notarangelo was found dead inside her home, underneath a pile of debris. Glastonbury Police Department Hoarding conditions were found in her house in Glastonbury, just southeast of Hartford, when authorities tried to find her last July. It wasn't until February that a work crew using a small excavator discovered her skeletal remains. They were found beneath a pile of debris heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday. Glastonbury police said conditions in the single-family home set off a rural road in the woods were among the worst they've seen and hindered several search attempts over the months. Officers said there were 6-foot-tall 'mountains' of garbage blocking entrance doors. Dead birds were found in cages along with mice running about and a live cat. And there was a terrible stench. 'Once inside, I observed more mountains of garbage, cobwebs, and spiders,' Officer Anthony Longo wrote in the report. 'There was no path whatsoever. The only way to move from room to room was by climbing over the garbage.' Glastonbury police said conditions in the single-family home set off a rural road in the woods were among the worst they've seen and hindered several search attempts over the months. AP It's not clear how Notarangelo died. At 73, she was a retired Bridgeport police detective and longtime Wiccan, according to officials and friends. Her death was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media earlier Wednesday. The state medical examiner's office said her cause of death could not be determined because the remains were mostly skeletal. A friend had called police to request the welfare check July 3, 2024. He told investigators Notarangelo last texted him around June 12, 2024, saying she was having abdominal cramps, vomiting and had fallen. It's not clear why the friend — who did not return phone and text messages — waited so long to call authorities. It's also not clear why it took seven months to find her remains, although several attempts had been made and officials cited the mounds of trash and other items. A police spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment about the timeline. 'It's so upsetting and so sad,' said another friend, Patti Steeves, who worked with Notarangelo at the Bridgeport Police Department as a civilian employee years ago. 'She, as quirky as she was, she was a good person at heart.' Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Steeves added: 'She was passionate about her faith. She was passionate about her job. She had a great sense of humor. And she loved her animals. She loved her animals more than she did herself.' Steeves said she tried to talk with Notarangelo about the hoarding, but Notarangelo wouldn't discuss it. She said Notarangelo was a 'bird fanatic' who had about 20 birds, including cockatoos, cockatiels and parrots, and a cat and a dog. Bridgeport police said Notarangelo worked there from 1985 to 1996. She was promoted to detective in 1992 and to sergeant a year later. Steeves said she retired on disability after an on-duty car crash that injured her back and legs. Notarangelo posted occasionally on her social media accounts, saying she was an animal lover and an 'intuitive & reiki master,' referring to the Japanese healing practice. She posted videos and photos of her birds, including a cockatoo perched on a shopping cart during her outing to a crafts store. Police and firefighters first searched the home on July 3, 2024, the day of the welfare check request but couldn't find her, citing hoarding piles as a major factor. They also sent a drone in the house, but it hit cobwebs and became disabled, police said. More searches, they said, were conducted on July 5, July 11, July 12 and Nov. 20. On Feb. 24, an environmental services crew arrived with a small excavator. Plywood was removed from the front door area and crews used the excavator to carefully remove the contents of the home through the opening. Notarangelo's remains were discovered within minutes, police said. An attorney was assigned to handle Notarangelo's estate in March. He did not return phone and email messages Wednesday. Relatives of Notarangelo, including her brother and niece, declined to comment.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Police find body of retired detective in ‘mountains of garbage' months after she was reported missing
The skeletal remains of a retired police detective, Mary Notarangelo, were discovered beneath a pile of debris inside her Connecticut home, months after authorities had conducted a welfare check that revealed severe hoarding conditions. Ms Notarangelo, described as reclusive in her later years by the few people who had contact with her, lived in Glastonbury, just southeast of Hartford. She was known for tending to numerous birds at her home, even posting videos of them on social media, including one accompanying her on a trip to a local crafts store. A welfare check requested last July led police to her property, where they found disturbing hoarding conditions. However, it wasn't until February that a work crew, using a small excavator, made the discovery. Her remains were found heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released on Wednesday. Glastonbury police said conditions in the single-family home set off a rural road in the woods were among the worst they've seen and hindered several search attempts over the months. Officers said there were 6-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) 'mountains' of garbage blocking entrance doors. Dead birds were found in cages along with mice running about and a live cat. And there was a terrible stench. 'Once inside, I observed more mountains of garbage, cobwebs, and spiders,' Officer Anthony Longo wrote in the report. 'There was no path whatsoever. The only way to move from room to room was by climbing over the garbage.' It's not clear how Notarangelo died. At 73, she was a retired Bridgeport police detective and longtime Wiccan, according to officials and friends. Her death was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media earlier Wednesday. The state medical examiner's office said her cause of death could not be determined because the remains were mostly skeletal. A friend had called police to request the welfare check July 3, 2024. He told investigators Notarangelo last texted him around June 12, 2024, saying she was having abdominal cramps, vomiting and had fallen. It's not clear why the friend — who did not return phone and text messages — waited so long to call authorities. It's also not clear why it took seven months to find her remains, although several attempts had been made and officials cited the mounds of trash and other items. A police spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment about the timeline. 'It's so upsetting and so sad,' said another friend, Patti Steeves, who worked with Notarangelo at the Bridgeport Police Department as a civilian employee years ago. 'She, as quirky as she was, she was a good person at heart.' Steeves added: 'She was passionate about her faith. She was passionate about her job. She had a great sense of humor. And she loved her animals. She loved her animals more than she did herself.' Steeves said she tried to talk with Notarangelo about the hoarding, but Notarangelo wouldn't discuss it. She said Notarangelo was a 'bird fanatic' who had about 20 birds, including cockatoos, cockatiels and parrots, and a cat and a dog. Bridgeport police said Notarangelo worked there from 1985 to 1996. She was promoted to detective in 1992 and to sergeant a year later. Steeves said she retired on disability after an on-duty car crash that injured her back and legs. Notarangelo posted occasionally on her social media accounts, saying she was an animal lover and an 'intuitive & reiki master,' referring to the Japanese healing practice. She posted videos and photos of her birds, including a cockatoo perched on a shopping cart during her outing to a crafts store. Police and firefighters first searched the home on July 3, 2024, the day of the welfare check request but couldn't find her, citing hoarding piles as a major factor. They also sent a drone in the house, but it hit cobwebs and became disabled, police said. More searches, they said, were conducted on July 5, July 11, July 12 and Nov. 20. On Feb. 24, an environmental services crew arrived with a small excavator. Plywood was removed from the front door area and crews used the excavator to carefully remove the contents of the home through the opening. Notarangelo's remains were discovered within minutes, police said. An attorney was assigned to handle Notarangelo's estate in March. He did not return phone and email messages Wednesday.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Retired detective found dead in hoarding conditions in Connecticut, months after she went missing
Mary Notarangelo lived a reclusive life in her later years, according to the few people who had contact with her. The retired police detective tended to her many birds at her Connecticut home and posted videos of them on social media, including one accompanying her on a trip to a local crafts store. But a welfare check request to police last year uncovered disturbing truths. Hoarding conditions were found in her house in Glastonbury, just southeast of Hartford, when authorities tried to find her last July. It wasn't until February that a work crew using a small excavator discovered her skeletal remains. They were found beneath a pile of debris heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday. Glastonbury police said conditions in the single-family home set off a rural road in the woods were among the worst they've seen and hindered several search attempts over the months. Officers said there were 6-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) 'mountains' of garbage blocking entrance doors. Dead birds were found in cages along with mice running about and a live cat. And there was a terrible stench. 'Once inside, I observed more mountains of garbage, cobwebs, and spiders,' Officer Anthony Longo wrote in the report. 'There was no path whatsoever. The only way to move from room to room was by climbing over the garbage.' It's not clear how Notarangelo died. At 73, she was a retired Bridgeport police detective and longtime Wiccan, according to officials and friends. Her death was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media earlier Wednesday. The state medical examiner's office said her cause of death could not be determined because the remains were mostly skeletal. A friend had called police to request the welfare check July 3, 2024. He told investigators Notarangelo last texted him around June 12, 2024, saying she was having abdominal cramps, vomiting and had fallen. It's not clear why the friend — who did not return phone and text messages — waited so long to call authorities. It's also not clear why it took seven months to find her remains, although several attempts had been made and officials cited the mounds of trash and other items. A police spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment about the timeline. 'It's so upsetting and so sad,' said another friend, Patti Steeves, who worked with Notarangelo at the Bridgeport Police Department as a civilian employee years ago. 'She, as quirky as she was, she was a good person at heart.' Steeves added: 'She was passionate about her faith. She was passionate about her job. She had a great sense of humor. And she loved her animals. She loved her animals more than she did herself.' Steeves said she tried to talk with Notarangelo about the hoarding, but Notarangelo wouldn't discuss it. She said Notarangelo was a 'bird fanatic' who had about 20 birds, including cockatoos, cockatiels and parrots, and a cat and a dog. Bridgeport police said Notarangelo worked there from 1985 to 1996. She was promoted to detective in 1992 and to sergeant a year later. Steeves said she retired on disability after an on-duty car crash that injured her back and legs. Notarangelo posted occasionally on her social media accounts, saying she was an animal lover and an 'intuitive & reiki master,' referring to the Japanese healing practice. She posted videos and photos of her birds, including a cockatoo perched on a shopping cart during her outing to a crafts store. Police and firefighters first searched the home on July 3, 2024, the day of the welfare check request but couldn't find her, citing hoarding piles as a major factor. They also sent a drone in the house, but it hit cobwebs and became disabled, police said. More searches, they said, were conducted on July 5, July 11, July 12 and Nov. 20. On Feb. 24, an environmental services crew arrived with a small excavator. Plywood was removed from the front door area and crews used the excavator to carefully remove the contents of the home through the opening. Notarangelo's remains were discovered within minutes, police said. An attorney was assigned to handle Notarangelo's estate in March. He did not return phone and email messages Wednesday.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Retired detective found dead in hoarding conditions in Connecticut, months after she went missing
GLASTONBURY, Conn. (AP) — Mary Notarangelo lived a reclusive life in her later years, according to the few people who had contact with her. The retired police detective tended to her many birds at her Connecticut home and posted videos of them on social media, including one accompanying her on a trip to a local crafts store. But a welfare check request to police last year uncovered disturbing truths. Hoarding conditions were found in her house in Glastonbury, just southeast of Hartford, when authorities tried to find her last July. It wasn't until February that a work crew using a small excavator discovered her skeletal remains. They were found beneath a pile of debris heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday. Glastonbury police said conditions in the single-family home set off a rural road in the woods were among the worst they've seen and hindered several search attempts over the months. Officers said there were 6-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) 'mountains' of garbage blocking entrance doors. Dead birds were found in cages along with mice running about and a live cat. And there was a terrible stench. 'Once inside, I observed more mountains of garbage, cobwebs, and spiders,' Officer Anthony Longo wrote in the report. 'There was no path whatsoever. The only way to move from room to room was by climbing over the garbage.' It's not clear how Notarangelo died. At 73, she was a retired Bridgeport police detective and longtime Wiccan, according to officials and friends. Her death was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media earlier Wednesday. The state medical examiner's office said her cause of death could not be determined because the remains were mostly skeletal. A friend had called police to request the welfare check July 3, 2024. He told investigators Notarangelo last texted him around June 12, 2024, saying she was having abdominal cramps, vomiting and had fallen. It's not clear why the friend — who did not return phone and text messages — waited so long to call authorities. It's also not clear why it took seven months to find her remains, although several attempts had been made and officials cited the mounds of trash and other items. A police spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment about the timeline. 'It's so upsetting and so sad,' said another friend, Patti Steeves, who worked with Notarangelo at the Bridgeport Police Department as a civilian employee years ago. 'She, as quirky as she was, she was a good person at heart.' Steeves added: 'She was passionate about her faith. She was passionate about her job. She had a great sense of humor. And she loved her animals. She loved her animals more than she did herself.' Steeves said she tried to talk with Notarangelo about the hoarding, but Notarangelo wouldn't discuss it. She said Notarangelo was a 'bird fanatic' who had about 20 birds, including cockatoos, cockatiels and parrots, and a cat and a dog. Bridgeport police said Notarangelo worked there from 1985 to 1996. She was promoted to detective in 1992 and to sergeant a year later. Steeves said she retired on disability after an on-duty car crash that injured her back and legs. Notarangelo posted occasionally on her social media accounts, saying she was an animal lover and an 'intuitive & reiki master,' referring to the Japanese healing practice. She posted videos and photos of her birds, including a cockatoo perched on a shopping cart during her outing to a crafts store. Police and firefighters first searched the home on July 3, 2024, the day of the welfare check request but couldn't find her, citing hoarding piles as a major factor. They also sent a drone in the house, but it hit cobwebs and became disabled, police said. More searches, they said, were conducted on July 5, July 11, July 12 and Nov. 20. On Feb. 24, an environmental services crew arrived with a small excavator. Plywood was removed from the front door area and crews used the excavator to carefully remove the contents of the home through the opening. Notarangelo's remains were discovered within minutes, police said. An attorney was assigned to handle Notarangelo's estate in March. He did not return phone and email messages Wednesday. Relatives of Notarangelo, including her brother and niece, declined to comment.
