Shelby Twp. Woman freezes to death after wandering from home

The 65-year-old woman was found on the Macomb Orchard trail about a mile from where she lived.

Shelby Township police say she had frozen to death after leaving her house sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. 

“This is just heartbreaking. That’s terrible, that’s terrible,” said Joni Jacobs, who lives in the area.

The woman’s husband says he last saw her around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. Inside their home at 25 Mile and Shelby Road. He reported her missing at 6:20 a.m. Thursday. 

She suffered from mental health issues, including dementia. She was discovered a short time later on a trail near 24 Mile and Dequindre.
 
“That's the second one I’ve heard this week. That’s terrible. I know just coming out of the gym, I checked my phone and saw the wind chill factor was -10 and I’m thinking it’s time to bundle up a little more than we normally do just zipping in and out of the house,” said Jacobs.

On Wednesday, a 57-year-old woman was discovered in Orion Township – frozen to death outside her home. 

“I can't even imagine,” said Jacobs. “Just standing here right now, it’s really just unbelievable.”

Meanwhile, police say they don’t know how long the Shelby Township woman was outside before she died.  

“I would think if you were lost and just walking, not prepared for the cold, it could be bad. I wish someone would have seen her and helped her. That’s terrible,” said Joel Walters, who lives in the area. 

“I feel so sorry for the family,” said Jacobs. “Especially with the new year, you think of positive things and they have to start off their year like this.”

This dangerously cold weather is expected to continue Friday and Saturday.