86-Year-Old Mass. Woman Found Dead, Home Unheated

Authorities say an 86-year-old North Brookfield woman has been found dead in her unheated home.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Dorothy Hall was found unresponsive Thursday morning by her son, who lives with her.

Early said 59-year-old Willis Hall called 911 when he found his mother sitting wrapped in a blanket in a living room chair. Hall told police the house had been without power since late Saturday afternoon, and his mother had complained of the cold Wednesday night. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of a medical condition and possible hypothermia.

Early urged people to check on elderly neighbors and contact police if they need shelter.

Nearly a week after the nor'easter hit Massachusetts, more than 85,000 electric customers remain without power. National Grid reports Friday morning that nearly 45,000 of its customers are still in the dark, and Western Massachusetts Electric is reporting more than 40,000 remaining outages.