The body of my grandmother was found “a vibrant and vibrant” in a burning clothing donation bin in upstate New York last week, authorities said.
Daily Patrol officers noticed a flame in a donation bin in Glen Falls about 50 miles north of Albany around 2:30am Thursday. The Glen Falls Police Department said in a statement.
Firefighters responded to put out the flames, but the body of Michelle MacFarlane, 43, inside the bottle was shockingly found, officers said.
Police say she was identified after a forensic autopsy that determined the cause of death was a “fire-related injury.”
McFarlane's funeral arrangements include a crew of family and friends who described her as “a vibrant, lively individual who lived her life with the joy and energy of touching everyone she met.” According to her obituary.
Police said she is from the Glen Falls area, but her obituary points out that she also has ties to Bennington, Virginia.
MacFarlane also attended the Salem Washington Academy in Salem, New York, her obituary said.
“She was known as party life, but always ready to laugh, dance, sing and shop. Her presence was magnetic and she could always be expected to bring warmth, enjoyment and light to any room,” it added.
MacFarlane was survived by his mother, four children, two grandchildren, and the other was soon born. She is also survived by her ex-husband and five brothers.
The exact situation around her death has not been confirmed yet, but Glen Falls Mayor William Collins said McFarlane may have sought shelter from outside elements into the clothing box.
“Humans and members of our community lost their lives in clothing donation bins that may have sought evacuation from a cold, rainy night.” Collins said in a statement Friday.
“This is a tough reminder for our community, even while Glen Falls has a very strong service for people who are in motion or in emotional distress, and while police officers are leaving their eyes day and night for those in danger, valuable lives have been lost in very troublesome situations,” he said.
Authorities are investigating two 911 calls made from the area in the hours before the fire. According to CBS 6.
They also asked the public to provide information on MacFarlane's whereabouts on March 5th from 2pm to 9pm, police said.
