Hurricane Rita Victim Found in Home 18 Months After the Storm

By Erin Peterson

Most of the residents of Beaumont, TX are still cleaning up their homes and trying to recover from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Rita. However, no efforts had been made at the home of Larry Euglon. The house did not incur any major damage from the storm, but it was partially blocked by two fallen oak trees.

Neighbors like Osborne Johnson did occasionally wonder where Euglon, 51, might be but they simply assumed he had not yet returned. Johnson, who lived across the street from Euglon for more than 20 years, said, "We decided he had evacuated with the other people and didn’t have a chance to come back."

In late January, Euglon’s home was inspected by a potential buyer who was shocked to discover Euglon’s remains, still fully clothed and lying in the bed. The property had been put up for sale as a result of unpaid property taxes.

It is a mystery to inspectors how and when Euglon died and also how his absence went unnoticed for nearly 18 months. Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Vi McGinnis was puzzled by the situation. "I walked away with more questions than answers. You keep thinking, why didn’t someone notice this."

Neighbors claim that Euglon chose not to be evacuated with many of the other community members several days before Rita hit nearby Sabine Pass. Most of his neighbors evacuated before the storm made landfall and stayed away for several weeks.

Upon returning to their devastated community and homes, residents concerned themselves with assessing the damage and beginning to repair their own homes and their lives. Since they assumed he had left town at a later time, family members and neighbors did not think to check on Euglon’s whereabouts or his home.

City officials inspecting the storm damaged focused their efforts on residences that sustained structural damage. Since the downed trees were not lying on the home, police and fire workers did not check Euglon’s home.

Months later, however, there was still no sign of Euglon and his property was becoming a health hazard. Overgrown grass, scattered trash, and fallen debris were causing an eyesore in the neighborhood. Eventually the home was put up for sale due to the unpaid property taxes.

It is reported that the interior of the house was in good condition. China plates and wine glasses were still sitting on the dining room table and the living room was still arranged.

Reports state that Euglon had been suffering from an illness for some time and that he had lost a great deal of weight. The specific illness and cause of death are not known but inspectors do believe he died of natural causes.

Euglon did have family members, including a daughter and ex-wife, living in Beaumont but he was not in contact with them. The man’s aunt, Dorothy Euglon, said that even before the hurricane, "You could have knocked on that door until hell freezes over and he was not going to let you in." She does not know why he chose to avoid communicating with his family or any other neighbors.

While Euglon’s neighbor does not feel that anyone is at fault for Euglon’s death, Johnson says, "We are all at fault of him not being found. I fault myself because living this close to him, I should have called the police or somebody and had a search made for him."

Justice of the Peace McGinnis believes that this incident has made community members more aware of the needs of those living alone.