Carolyn Delcour’s family believes extreme temperatures inside her apartment with no working air conditioning played a role in her death.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The death of an 80-year-old woman at the Haverstock Hills Apartments is spurring action by family and activists.
Carolyn Delcour’s family believes extreme temperatures inside her apartment with no working air conditioning may have played a role in her death. Her family said they plan to file suit.
Part of that class action suit, family members said, would request tthat he apartment name be changed to honor Dalcour’s memory. They said she lived there for 20 years, but died in a way they believe was preventable.
Fighting back tears, Delcour’s daughter is standing up for what her family calls an injustice.
“We are going to support this family, and they have to understand that your negligence took somebody’s loved one from them,” New Panther Party activist Candice Matthews said.
The family hopes to file a class action lawsuit by collecting similar concerns from others living in the apartments.
“I’ve been contacted by several people who said I want to let you know what happened to Miss Delcour. She didn’t just go (for help) on Sunday. She had went several other times before,” family attorney Adjua Umoja-Justice said.
The family said Dalcour’s air conditioning went out in June, and the wait for maintenance turned out to be too long.
“I called the front office and begged them — please, fix my mama’s air conditioner, man, it’s too hot,” one of her daughters said through tears.
Dalcour’s daughter found her body in an apartment. Family members and Matthews said it was sweltering inside.
“It was so hot in her apartment unit that her candles were even melting. And while she was pretty much cooking on her couch,” Matthews said.
Matthews claims Delcour’s death is part of a widespread maintenance issue at the complex. In response to complaints, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office toured the complex.
“We’re doing fire safety inspections, and so what that includes … our authority lies within the complex, but not within the residential walls of the unit,” Brandi Dumas said.
Matthews said she’s in communication with other government agencies that’ll have the authority to inspect the inside of the units here. It’s not clear yet when that will happen.
In a statement to KHOU 11, Haverstock Hills Apartments said, “We are saddened by the passing of our neighbor. Our hearts go out to the Dalcour family during this time. Out of respect for the family and while facts continue to be reviewed, we are unable to provide further comment.”
Dalcour’s family has confirmed she had preexisting medical issues. The medical examiner’s office still hasn’t determined the cause of her death.