Foreclosures Claim another Victim

Posted in Foreclosure Victims, October 17th, 2008 |

Foreclosures have claimed another victim. A woman sets fire to her house and then killed herself.

According to police reports, Wanda Dunn, 53, in a planned way packed her bags on the night prior to her death. She left them on the front doorsteps of her neighbour together with instructions about what they should do with the stuff. After that she went to her house in Pasadena that belonged to her grandparents. Then she set it on fire before shooting herself.

Alicia Suarez is a homeless woman who sometimes used to seek shelter in garage of Dunn’s house. Alicia says that it is foreclosure that forced Wanda to take this extreme step. Alicia added, “She was very good friend of mine. Let her rest in peace.”

The friends and neighbours of Wanda said that in all probability this unnatural death was due to foreclosure related financial problems. A revolver was found next to her body. Lt. John Dewar of Pasadena police commented, “It’s very, very sad case, especially in these economic times.”

The last few weeks have been the worst with tumbling real estate prices, economic gloom and increase in foreclosures especially in California. Foreclosures have undoubtedly taken a toll of the mental health of the sufferers. Clinical psychologist Gaithri Fernand of Los Angeles said that people commit suicide when they do not have any hope about help and assistance. In other words they have lost all faith in the world and in themselves. “Helplessness in the face of bad things leads to hopelessness, which leads to suicidal behaviour” she added.

The neighbours were the first ones to see smoke gushing out of Wanda’s house in 1000 block, North Wilson Avenue in the wee hours before 5 am last Monday. Scott Hardin, a neighbour contacted the fire department. Minutes later the fire fighting team arrived but by that time the building was charred and ash was blowing in the wind.

The neighbours recalled Wanda as being ‘pretty’ and ‘reclusive.’ Hardin and Dunn would sometimes exchange greetings with a wave of the hand but they never really chatted. Williard Pugh was another neighbour – one of the few who were considered by Wanda to be a friend. He said, “You could tell that she was very pretty, but she never got dressed up.” Others neighbours too said that Wanda would often wave but she was never close to anybody. Most probably foreclosure eviction notice had made her lose her mental balance.