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90-Year-Old Woman Shoots Herself in Foreclosed Home
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by Jordan Yerman | October 3, 2008 at 12:50 pm
367 views | 12 Recommendations | 7 comments
An 90-year-old woman became an unwitting symbol of the ongoing mortgage crisis--and its effect on everyday Americans-- after shooting herself in her foreclosed home as sheriff's deputies tried to evict her. Addie Polk survived the self-inflicted wounds, and was named during the debate over the bailout package on Capitol Hill. Polk lived in the house for nearly 40 years, taking out a new 30-year mortgage just four years ago. I wonder who would give a 30-year mortgage to an 86-year-old applicant.
Court records show Polk took out a 30-year, 6.375 percent mortgage just four years ago for $45,620 with a Countrywide Home Loan office in Cuyahoga Falls. She took out a line of credit that same day for $11,380.
Addie Polk is being treated at Akron General Medical Center after shooting herself at least twice in the upper body Wednesday afternoon, her city councilman said.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, mentioned Polk on the House floor Friday during debate over the latest economic rescue proposal.
"This bill does nothing for the Addie Polks of the world," Kucinich said after telling her story. "This bill fails to address the fact that millions of homeowners are facing foreclosure, are facing the loss of their home. This bill will take care of Wall Street, and the market may go up for a few days, but democracy is going downhill."
She lived. She's in the hospital, though nobody knows where she'll go after that.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 13:08 on October 3rd, 2008
jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff. Depressing, and I hope the government takes notice of this case. People are REALLY suffering out here trying to make ends meet.
at 13:14 on October 3rd, 2008
My 80 year old aunt, manipulated by her daughter in law, acquired a second mortgage on her previously paid off house, despite my counsel against it.
at 13:36 on October 3rd, 2008
This is awful - having to go to this extent - how sad.
at 14:40 on October 3rd, 2008
Good god - this is terrible! Has it got that bad in the US?
at 14:53 on October 3rd, 2008
Interesting. It has always been this way in the USA. In the old days a person could move west to the frontier and try it again. The frontier was closed in 1890.
at 20:35 on October 3rd, 2008
jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff. Tragic when your home always though of as your Castle, is laid siege by banks
at 15:16 on October 4th, 2008
When it comes to foreclosures I guess banks would rather we kill ourselves or inflict potential deadly harm. What more do they want from us? I wonder what McCain or Obama would have to say about this? Pathetic. I hope this woman recovers.