Hoarding Case Discovered in Harwood Heights

Village officials say the discovery of a woman living among trash is the worst case of hoarding they've ever seen.

The home on the 4500 block of North Nagle Avenue in the northwest suburb was deemed uninhabitable after authorities entered the home and piles of garbage and debris on the floor, Pioneer Local reported.

A police sergeant was hospitalized after a rotted railing gave way as he was trying to peer into a window.  He fell about eight feet onto a concrete pavement.

The homeowner was cited for failing to maintain her property and was set up in a nearby hotel, said Harwood Heights police chief Mario Ricchio.

He said he has seen some cases of hoarding before but not this severe.

"In the past when people were proved to be incapable, we've had the Cook County Public Guardian step in," Ricchio said. "They have been contacted. But she has not be evaluated as yet and right now her responsibility is to correct the situation.