Tuesday afternoon Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the house at 25 Llama Trail in Palm Coast. A next-door neighbor had called, concerned that she hadn’t seen her 70-year-old neighbor, Sue Coates, in almost a week, nor seen her take out the trash on trash days.
When paramedics tried to make contact with Coates at the door, they were unsuccessful. A deputy reported smelling the odor of decomposition.
Deputies and paramedics went to the back of the house to look for a back entrance. They discovered a window that was cracked open.
“Several announcements that the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was present were made before I entered the residence,” deputy Andrei Picerne, one of the sheriff’s office’s newest recruits, reported.
Once in the deputy made his way into the 1000-square-foot house, he reported, “I saw what looked like two German shepherds laying on the ground deceased. Upon making a further entrance into the residence, I found Sue lying on the floor in the living room between the couch and the table. It appeared that Sue was lying on her back for over an extended period without any movement. Sue’s third dog was sitting next to her. Sue was alive and breathing but could not speak.”
The third dog was taken outside and kept by the neighbor until animal control’s arrival, and eventually taken to the Humane Society. Animal control removed the German shepherds. Coates was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler for treatment. Several attempts to locate a next-of-kin for Coates–whose full name is Sue Ann Coates–were not successful.
She had been taken ill for days, and had developed “severe decomposition on her backside of her body from laying too long in one spot,” the sheriff’s report states, and maggots had begun to consume her flesh. She was stabilized. The Sheriff’s Office determined there were no signs of criminal activity and turned the case over to the Department of Children and Families.
Duncan says
Thank God for the neighbor!
Lou says
Really SAD. Belive me.
GY says
So many elderly in Flagler who’s only companions are pets. There must be someway to set up a “check on your neighbor” list even for seniors who don’t have pets. Thank God for neighbor and Humane Society and brave police. So sad.
Markingthedays says
Oh man. I’m assuming the poor dogs laid there next to her, wondering why she wasn’t moving, until they starved. Such a sad story!
Born and Raised Here says
So many elders in Flagler County who live by themselves. With most of them not from here, and no kin folks to check on them periodically. Perhaps they should be required to call the FCSO once a week to check in that they are okay.
ASF says
God bless her. So sad.
Eleanor says
I have a “code” set up with an elderly neighbor. Each morning I check to see if her front blind is open. One day it wasn’t so I checked on her and she said she forgot. I told her I was worried and she remembers now. This is a simple and non intrusive way to check on someone.
Anonymous says
rest in peace….may her deceased dogs cross the rainbow bridge and be her companions in enternal life….
im usually cynical in these comments,but this is so sad
gmath55 says
She should of had life alert. I’ve fallen and can’t get up. http://www.lifealert.com/
Anonymous says
This is so sad. It should be mandatory that medicare provide medical alert devices to all seniors who need them because this would have allowed this woman to get help right away. Where are our legislators??????
Bc. says
Very sad the state should support a program to help the seniors who live alone get help getting the life alert system to wear on them In case this happens
Just the truth says
Medical alerts should be free to all elderly people.
Jenn says
Very sad situation however it don’t think the dog would die of starvation. Glad her neighbor was keeping check on her and her four-legged baby 2. And as far as the state doing anything good luck with that