Missing Woman Found Buried Under Hoarded Trash in Home
You know how some news stories just stick with you? This is one of those. Former police sergeant Mary Notarangelo—yeah, the one who went missing last October—was finally found in her Connecticut home. Buried under literal mountains of trash. Seven months later. Let that sink in.
What Happened to Mary?
Mary was 63, retired from the force, and by all accounts, a tough cookie. But here’s the thing—nobody heard from her after October 2023. Not a text, not a call. Family got worried (obviously) and reported her missing. Cops showed up, took one look at her house, and realized they had a nightmare on their hands.
I’m talking floor-to-ceiling junk. Like one of those hoarder shows, but worse. Search teams basically had to play archaeological dig just to move through the place. No wonder it took them till May 2024 to find her. And when they did? Under layers of garbage. Just awful.
Hoarding Isn’t Just Messy—It’s Dangerous
Most people think hoarders are just lazy or disorganized. Couldn’t be more wrong. It’s a real mental health condition—doctors actually call it Hoarding Disorder. Imagine feeling physically sick at the thought of throwing away a grocery receipt. That’s what these folks deal with daily.
Stats say 2-6% of people struggle with this. But here’s the kicker: it’s not about the stuff. It’s about the brain wiring going haywire. And when it gets bad? You get situations like Mary’s.
Why Couldn’t They Find Her Sooner?
Picture trying to search a house where:
- Doorways are blocked by stacks of newspapers from 1998
- The floor’s a death trap of precariously balanced junk
- There might be literal biohazards lurking
First responders need special training for this stuff. Remember that New York case a few years back? Same deal—guy buried under his own clutter for years before anyone noticed. Makes you wonder how many others are out there, doesn’t it?
The Irony of a Cop Becoming a Victim
Here’s what gets me—Mary spent her career keeping people safe. Colleagues say she was sharp, disciplined, the kind who’d notice details others missed. So how does someone like that end up alone, swallowed by their own home?
Some think the job stress got to her. Police work isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows. But honestly? We’ll never really know. Mental health’s funny that way—it doesn’t care about your resume or how tough you are.
What Now?
After this mess, local officials are scrambling to look better on mental health support. Connecticut’s got some programs, but let’s be real—they’re Band-Aids on a bullet wound. As one community organizer put it: “We’re not talking about messy houses here. We’re talking about people dying surrounded by pizza boxes and old magazines.”
So here’s the takeaway: If you’ve got a loved one who’s always making excuses about their clutter, or who won’t let anyone inside anymore? Don’t wait. Call for help. Organizations like the International OCD Foundation can point you in the right direction.
Mary’s story should’ve had a different ending. Maybe if someone had pushed harder, or if the system worked better… But ‘what ifs’ don’t bring people back. All we can do now is try to prevent the next tragedy.
Source: Fox News US
