A Dallas hoarder who was last seen on March 15 was discovered dead in his home on Thursday after rescuers were able to find him behind a “10-foot wall of trash.”

It took rescuers two days to reach the 67-year-old man.


Police were alerted there might be an issue when neighbors became suspicious after the man did not show up for church. Rescuers had to cut holes in the roof of the home and use dogs to find the man. “We just could not get around or find anything,” Dallas Fire Rescue Lt. Joel Lavender told CBS Dallas-Fort Worth.

While they were digging through the mounds of debris, rescuers found a dead raccoon and two dead dogs.

“They’ve been pulling out jugs and jugs of urine and feces and just the things that he collected is amazing,” said neighbor Jessica Zacek. “Everyone knew there was a hoarding situation. No one knew the extent.”

Although the man didn’t make it, authorities were able to save his dog, Buddy. The dog, which was trapped without water for days, will be cared for by a friend.

“[I] gave him a bath, cleaned him up,” said Leo Gregg. “I knew that dog meant everything to him,” he said.

The man’s name has not been released pending notification of his next of kin.

“It’s a sad loss. I know it’s a bad way to go, but he was a good guy. He was a good guy. He had a heart of gold,” said April Tepera.

[WFAA] [CBS Dallas-Fort Worth]