PITCAIRN, Pa. — Police said an apartment building in Pitcairn was Tuesday evacuated after a body was discovered inside a unit. A child and a woman were also found living in the apartment, which officials said was “filthy.”
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The body said was discovered in a three-story apartment building on Center Avenue around 2 p.m.
Officials said the man, who was living in the apartment with his sister and her child, died sometime in the past 12 hours of natural causes.
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Hazmat crews were spotted at the scene, and all tenants were evacuated. A warming tent was set up for those people.
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Tenants were allowed to return to their apartments just after 5:30 p.m.
Pitcairn police Chief Scott Farally told Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE that the apartment unit was filled with human waste, trash and old food.
Firefighters had to wear gas masks with air tanks when they went inside.
Fred Broerman said his neighbors kept to themselves, so he didn't know what was going on when police, firefighters and medics swarmed the apartment building.
"The guy across the street came over with a phone. It was our landlord. He said, ‘Who died?’ I said, “I have no idea what you're talking about,’” said Broerman. "I don't go in their apartment; they don't come in my apartment."
Authorities told Channel 11's Courtney Brennan that charges are pending against the victim's sister, who he was living with, because of the conditions the child was allegedly found living in.