Elderly woman found dead outside Tillsonburg school after frigid night
OPP won't say whether the woman was properly dressed to withstand the elements
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after the body of an elderly woman was discovered on the grounds of a Tillsonburg elementary school the morning after temperatures plunged to -23 C overnight.
Police said the woman was discovered with vital signs absent at 6:45 a.m. Friday outside Maple Leaf Public School by an employee.
The woman was rushed to a local hospital, where she was declared dead.
Police have ruled out foul play, but OPP Const. Stacey Culbert said the possibility the woman may have frozen to death in Thursday night's frigid temperatures is being considered by investigators.
"We've certainly had a cold spell here last night, but yeah, they'll be looking into that as well as other things," Culbert said.
Culbert wouldn't say whether the woman was properly dressed to withstand the extreme cold in Tillsonburg overnight.
"At this time I am unable to say that," Culbert said.
However, with the recent cold snap Culbert said the OPP is reminding everyone to keep on eye on vulnerable people, such as the elderly and young children.
Three-year-old Toronto boy Elijah Marsh died in hospital on Thursday, after spending hours outside in the bitter cold when he wandered away from the apartment building where he was staying with family around 4 a.m. wearing only a T-shirt, diaper and boots.
The OPP said it would not release the woman's identity until her next-of-kin have been notified.