Elderly Michigan man who froze to death had recent history of late payments

Well of course. What part of "93 years old and payment problems after years of being fine" was the city missing? Having assisted an elderly friend with similar daily living issues, it doesn't seem unusual to imagine there was a problem. Our friend was slipping into dementia and it became impossible for him to remember what he ate ten minutes ago, let alone making timely payments. In the case of Marvin Schur, someone now seems intent on pushing the blame back over to the old man who did try and make payments (he had the money) but he obviously became frustrated with the process.

It's sickening to read that someone out there wants to make this death the fault of the the man who died. Whoever it is that's promoting this ought to just leave it alone or accept that they could have done more to help someone in need.

Marvin Schur may have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the World War II veteran was chronically late in paying his utility bills during the two years before he froze to death last month at age 93 in his home in Bay City, Michigan, after his power was cut off.

A review of records by city workers reveals Schur, at one point, went to his own bank to make back payments, but was unable to do so because that bank was not an approved pay station for the city.

"Maybe he had dementia. I don't know that. We may never know," City Manager Robert Belleman told CNN.

Schur's body was found in his bedroom. Authorities said the temperature inside his home was 32 degrees. A limiter installed a few days earlier had shut off power because of unpaid bills.

City officials have said Schur may not have known he could reset the power switch to keep on his gas heat.

"It was not an issue of his ability to pay, it was something else, " Belleman added.

Our elderly friend was still scuba diving at 75 years old and yet by 78, he could not remember his travel days (and he was obsessive about it after years in logistics) and by 80 could not recall what he said minutes before. Bay City, Michigan needs to quit kicking a dead man and face their own failings.