Latest news with #ShirlyneJohnson
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking final words of mom who died in scorching apartment after housing authority 'refused' to fix AC
A mother who died in her scorching apartment after the housing authority allegedly refused to fix her AC told her son 'I have suffered all weekend' just hours before. Disabled resident Shirlyne Johnson passed away at her apartment in a central Denver high-rise on May 23, 2023, after complaining about the temperature several times. The medical examiner said the 68-year-old died due to cardiovascular disease complicated by exposure to heat, adding that her body temperature was 111 degrees. They estimated that Johnson's apartment, in the 13-story Thomas Bean Towers, was a scorching 125 degrees after her AC unit blew hot air in on a 60 degree day. Johnson's heartbroken son, Shawn Pope, said she complained about the broken machine to her front desk on May 19, but maintenance never attended her unit. She complained again on May 22, and an employee told her the super would fix the AC later that day. He revealed her final words that day to The Denver Post. 'I have suffered all weekend, son,' Johnson told her son. 'I'm tired.' On May 23, Pope tried to call his mother, but she didn't pick up. Just before 9pm, he went to her flat with his wife to check on her, but there was no answer. Investigators estimated that Johnson's apartment, in the 13-story Thomas Bean Towers (pictured), was a scorching 125 degrees after her AC unit blew hot air in during a 60 degree day A maintenance man let the couple in, and they were confronted with a blast of hot air. They found Johnson dead in just her underwear, lying on her bed. Johnson's children, Pope and his sister Latrisse Johnson, have since launched a lawsuit in Colorado court accusing the Denver Housing Authority of neglect. 'My mother didn't have to go this way,' Latrisse Johnson told the Post. 'I need accountability for her death.' has contacted the housing authority for comment. Thomas Bean Towers serves low-income elderly adults, and people with disabilities. Johnson was disabled - she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, among other health issues. According to the Post, she was not the first person to die at Thomas Bean Towers due to overheating. Another woman, Diann Cooper Williams, also died at the age of 66 in the 189-unit block on March 11, 2019 amid similar circumstances. Williams died after the housing authority installed a humidifier as contractors fixed a water leak, and the heat soared to around 116 degrees. Medical examiners determined that she died as a result of environmental exposure due to hyperthermia - also known as heat stroke - with contributions of cardiovascular disease and a recent flu infection. City officials investigated the deaths and found that the Denver Housing Authority failed to identify what contributed to the first death, or make any changes to prevent future tragedies unfolding. The building has also been troubled by another health issue - an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease, a severe lung infection, spread through the units later in 2023. A public investigation found that the Denver Housing Authority again did not act quickly to resolve this horrific issue. The agency told the Post in a statement that it 'takes resident well-being seriously and it is always our top priority.'
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Family blames Denver Housing Authority for senior's death in sweltering apartment
The family of a woman who died in her Denver Housing Authority apartment during extreme heat is suing the agency, claiming negligence in responding to her repeated complaints about her air conditioning system. Shirlyne Johnson Johnson Family Shirlyne Johnson, 68, was found dead two years ago inside her unit on the sixth floor of Thomas Bean Towers -- a public housing complex for seniors in Denver. According to the lawsuit, the temperature inside her apartment exceeded 120 degrees. Her daughter, Latrisse Johnson, says the family still struggles to process the loss. "I was not able to see my mother when we did funeral services," she said. "She was decomposed." The lawsuit alleges that Johnson, who had pre-existing health conditions, had repeatedly requested maintenance to fix her malfunctioning HVAC system, which was reportedly pumping hot air into her apartment for days, according to the lawsuit. "Her complaint was, 'My AC is not working,' and if they had just taken the time to go and see what the issue was, I think it could've saved my mom's life," Latrisse said. CBS The Denver Housing Authority manages the Thomas Bean Towers. The lawsuit claims the agency failed to respond to maintenance requests in a timely and appropriate manner, ultimately leading to Johnson's death. The autopsy report, cited in the lawsuit, found multiple contributing factors in Johnson's death, which were "complicated by exposure to an increased environmental temperature." Her body temperature was recorded at 111 degrees at the time of death. "It could've been an easy fix," Latrisse said. "I need the Denver Housing Authority to be accountable for their actions. I don't want any other residents or disabled elderly to go through what my mom went through." In a statement to CBS News Colorado, the Denver Housing Authority said: "While we are unable to comment at this time due to the open court case, our mission remains focused on providing safe, stable housing and supporting the communities we serve." Latrisse Johnson says that statement does not reflect her family's experience. "The housing authority needs to do better," she said. A judge will now decide whether the lawsuit can move forward or if DHA is protected under Colorado's Governmental Immunity Act. That ruling could take several months.
