It was a quiet morning at 7th and Montana. The so-called "marine layer," a thin shroud of fog that sometimes permeates the area, kept the weather cool but comfortable, the scent of jasmine perfumed the air, and folks seemed content just to relax and watch the world go by. Perhaps that's why no one noticed that a Corpse was sitting in our midst. Yes, friends, evidently that man sitting at the Bus Stop all morning wasn't just waiting for Line 1 to Venice Beach. He was dead. I found out about it from Genevieve, who called -- moments after I had returned home from my morning coffee run -- to suggest that I head back to Starbucks to investigate. I was back on the scene within five-minutes. By that time, Police had cordoned-off the area and were directing pedestrians to walk around the corpse. Genevieve looked at me expectantly. "Didn't you notice anything peculiar this morning?," she asked. "Well," I responded, "Now that you mention it, his posture did seem unusually erect but otherwise, no, everything seemed pretty normal." Here are the facts, based on interviews with several eyewitnesses:
- The man-in-question was evidently homeless. His identity has not yet been released;
- Police discovered him late last night, very much alive, loitering around Starbucks. They asked him to leave;
- The death was discovered at approximately 11:30 this morning by a Mysterious Newcomer, known among insiders as "The Loon" for his tendency to honk like a Canadian Goose at bicyclists and skateboarders;
- "The Loon" (pictured below) brought the corpse to the attention of workers at the nearby Montana West Hair Salon, prompting one Brave Hair Stylist to hold a mirror in front of the man's mouth to see if he was breathing. He wasn't;
- The Hair Stylist called the police at approximately 11:45; They responded within minutes.
- The Coroner -- a woman in her mid-thirties -- arrived approximately 30-minutes later to investigate; She removed the body at precisely 1:04 p.m.
- Inside sources report that "The Loon" claims he knew the deceased and that the man had only just been released from a nearby hospital after suffering from a serious ailment.
If you ask me, this last bit of information is the most tragic. If true, it suggests that health care practitioners quite possibly turned a homeless man out on the street yesterday to die. That he died at the Bus Stop at 7th and Montana, in full view of the Hoi Palloi at Our Favorite Starbucks, is the Ultimate Indignity.
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12 comments:
It's sad but true that the almighty dollar controls most medical treatment choices.
God Rest His Soul
Wow sure WAS an interesting day at starbucks.
I went to Starbucks today. It was not quite that interesting but I got my Strawberry Frappe. I sure wish they would bring back the banana frappe. lol
This is terribly tragic...that he was all alone, and obviously not well when released by the hospital. So sad.
Very sad.... sad that hospitals consider themselves only 'businesses' and NOT there to HELP the people of the community like they were originally supposed to do.
At least he is being associated more with the salon then Starbucks. Tragic to have that happen.
Marty, oh man...that is terribly sad. I hope there is further investigation. What was his status when he was released from the hospital? Did he check himself out? These are questions that need to be answered. I hope you'll find out more in the coming days.
:( Hugs, Beth
So sad.........may God bless him. I'm sure the medical facility should not have released him.
Hugs, Rose
I find it heart rendering that he died alone and on the street. The location doesn't matter it's the the inhumanity of dying in such a way. (Hugs)Indigo
Yes, the ultimate indignity, to die alone, on the street, where not even a passer by would notice that he was dead. Tragic, indeed! More so of the hospital that released him.
Oh my gosh....that's so sad! Poor guy....
(erm. the chick with the mirror is way more brave than me.)
marty, so sorry about this. so sad to die alone. barb
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