A group of neighbors met Paul Bolder at his door as he was coming home from church on Sunday, January 25, 2009. They handed Bolder a Truman Medical Center wristband printed with the name of a recently discharged patient: Christopher Scott. The 51-year-old man had been found that morning, frozen to death, on the front lawn of a house near 31st Street and Monroe.
Scott was a lifelong friend of Bolder's. A brain injury had left the former handyman incapable of working for Bolder's construction business, as he had often done in the past. Eight months earlier, Bolder had helped move Scott into the St. Regis Apartments, a building for low-income residents at the northeast corner of Linwood and the Paseo. Rents there are heavily subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Bolder helped his friend sign up for Social Security checks and open a bank account, then filled his cabinets at the St. Regis with food donated by Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries.
A caseworker from MLM tells The Pitch that he knew Scott needed more supervision than the St. Regis could offer as an independent living facility. But Scott liked the St. Regis, so the caseworker stopped trying to move him elsewhere. It isn't his job to manage clients long-term, he says. When Scott moved into Apartment 310 of the St. Regis in May 2008, the MLM caseworker closed his file.
The Friday before his death, Scott dropped by Bolder's home, near 29th Street and Norton. He told Bolder that he'd been kicked out of the St. Regis and had his keys confiscated. He didn't understand why. He asked Bolder to go with him the following Monday to talk with Michelle McCray, the building's manager. At the very least, Scott figured, he could try to retrieve his belongings. Everything he owned was still locked inside 310.
Bolder agreed to accompany his friend. Meanwhile, he knew that Scott had stayed before with a friend in the neighborhood around the St. Regis, so he wasn't worried. "I always thought he was coming back," Bolder says.
But neighbors discovered Scott's frozen body early Sunday morning. "It was bitter cold," Bolder recalls. "He had warm clothes on, but it was well below zero for three days."
Scott's cause of death was ruled as "environmental hypothermia" by the Jackson County Medical Examiner. His body lay unclaimed in the morgue for nearly a month as workers there attempted to find his relatives. The hospital ID bracelet that he was wearing when he died was from a recent visit that Scott had made to get treatment for an infected cut on his hand.
Bolder has kept copies of Scott's lease agreement from Knudson Housing Partners XXIII Ltd., the HUD-contracted manager of the St. Regis, that was signed by McCray. On it, Scott had clearly printed Bolder's name and phone number for his emergency contact. But Bolder says no one from the St. Regis ever called him. The agreement states that a tenant can't be kicked out "except for a violation of the lease or other good cause," and that the manager must provide a tenant with written notice of the violation before terminating the lease. Bolder says Scott never received such a notice. HUD's records show that as of August 2008, the St. Regis classified him as a "move out." There is no record of his eviction at the Jackson County Courthouse.
"You kick him out in the cold — that's an emergency," Bolder says. "I never did get an explanation. He was in a home of his own. He should have never ended up on the street. She [McCray] shouldn't run a dog kennel, let alone someplace where people need assistance."
Showing 1-20 of 20
Seems to me that nothing will be done for these poor people. Thru church I have met some of the tenants and they feel like they have been hung out to dry just for a newspaper story.
Seems to me that nothing will be done for these poor people. Thru church I have met some of the tenants and they feel like they have been hung out to dry just for a newspaper story.
That manager needs to have charges brought against her for abuse of the elderly and disabled.
That manager needs to have charges brought against her for abuse of the elderly and disabled.
WOW. I can't believe it. This was a well-written story, and I really hope someone listens to these people and helps them.
WOW. I can't believe it. This was a well-written story, and I really hope someone listens to these people and helps them.
I myself am Low-Income Property Manager and know that property management is not an easy job. You have to juggle several hats. You have the owners to make happy, and the tenants to deal with and then there is HUD's hoops to jump through. That being said, I have dealt with several tenants that complained about how they have been mistreated not only by management at St. Regis but at several of the other low-income properties. It is really sad to see and hear the horror stories. Most of which are true. You have to be a very special person to run a commerical property much less, a HUD subsidized property. You have to going into it knowing that you have to be not only be a Property Manager, but a Social-worker, Med-tech, Banker, Therapist, Counselor, Babysitter, Mediator, and the list goes on. If you are not willing to do that, why apply for the job. I love being a property manager. And am proud to say that
I have never mistreated any of my past or current tenants. I'm a true believer of "Due unto other as you would have them due unto you." You never know when you could be in anyone of your tenants shoes. The sad part about the situation is that Property Managers like myself that will come into a property and make a positive difference for all parties involved are far and few in between. But the ones that cause property management companies all sorts of suits and trouble tend to keep jobs. It is sad and something needs to be done. It is very easy to mistreat low-income tenants, due to the fact alot of them can't read or those that can read don't understand the language in their lease or you have those that just plain don't read their leases. Alot of managers/owners play on that. I've seen it done. It's not right, but it is being done everyday as common practiced. We as a society have to do something about this. Thank you Pitch for shining a light on this issuse. I'm sure property managers like myself are thanking you also.
I myself am Low-Income Property Manager and know that property management is not an easy job. You have to juggle several hats. You have the owners to make happy, and the tenants to deal with and then there is HUD's hoops to jump through. That being said, I have dealt with several tenants that complained about how they have been mistreated not only by management at St. Regis but at several of the other low-income properties. It is really sad to see and hear the horror stories. Most of which are true. You have to be a very special person to run a commerical property much less, a HUD subsidized property. You have to going into it knowing that you have to be not only be a Property Manager, but a Social-worker, Med-tech, Banker, Therapist, Counselor, Babysitter, Mediator, and the list goes on. If you are not willing to do that, why apply for the job. I love being a property manager. And am proud to say that I have never mistreated any of my past or current tenants. I'm a true believer of "Due unto other as you would have them due unto you." You never know when you could be in anyone of your tenants shoes. The sad part about the situation is that Property Managers like myself that will come into a property and make a positive difference for all parties involved are far and few in between. But the ones that cause property management companies all sorts of suits and trouble tend to keep jobs. It is sad and something needs to be done. It is very easy to mistreat low-income tenants, due to the fact alot of them can't read or those that can read don't understand the language in their lease or you have those that just plain don't read their leases. Alot of managers/owners play on that. I've seen it done. It's not right, but it is being done everyday as common practiced. We as a society have to do something about this. Thank you Pitch for shining a light on this issuse. I'm sure property managers like myself are thanking you also.
So many Senior Living Facilities have very same problems,
Poor Managers and maintenance. National Church Residences
have such properties and no matter how many times you complain, the only thing they do is pass it on to the Property Manage who you complain about. That manager then
threatens the tenant with eviction and will do all in their power to find a way to evict. You notify fair housing and they do the same thing, contact the manager.
It is a shame the poor man could'nt get help and I would say the management did exactly as he told his friend. Then the cover-up. Too bad seniors are treated this way, but as the old saying goes "You can't fight City Hall". My prayers are with the man's family and friends.
This is the most appaling story i have ever read in a LONG time. How awful! This woman should not be allowed to run a dog pound. Where are these tenants relatives? Surely some of them have loved ones that should be checking on them. Well, I have this to say...she better be glad none of my loved ones reside there because there would be hell to pay! p.s. and who is going to take a stand for these poor tenants, anywho? Why is she still managing these apartments? Surely you wouldn't have me believe that these people are making this up? Where is the justice?
So many Senior Living Facilities have very same problems, Poor Managers and maintenance. National Church Residences have such properties and no matter how many times you complain, the only thing they do is pass it on to the Property Manage who you complain about. That manager then threatens the tenant with eviction and will do all in their power to find a way to evict. You notify fair housing and they do the same thing, contact the manager. It is a shame the poor man could'nt get help and I would say the management did exactly as he told his friend. Then the cover-up. Too bad seniors are treated this way, but as the old saying goes "You can't fight City Hall". My prayers are with the man's family and friends.
This is the most appaling story i have ever read in a LONG time. How awful! This woman should not be allowed to run a dog pound. Where are these tenants relatives? Surely some of them have loved ones that should be checking on them. Well, I have this to say...she better be glad none of my loved ones reside there because there would be hell to pay! p.s. and who is going to take a stand for these poor tenants, anywho? Why is she still managing these apartments? Surely you wouldn't have me believe that these people are making this up? Where is the justice?
If everything that was reported is true,I really hope that something is done about her.
But from the looks of things as far as her years of employment there,either her boss doesnt know of the problems or doesnt care.
McCray sounds like a real angel. Also sounds like she isn't above making a little cheddar of her tenants. It would be interesting if there turned out to be a connection between the buyer in her real estate flip. Great story. Now I'll wait for the Hyde Parkers to start screaming "We Told You So!!!!!"
In 3....2...1....
If everything that was reported is true,I really hope that something is done about her. But from the looks of things as far as her years of employment there,either her boss doesnt know of the problems or doesnt care.
My mother, Marsha Clair Bland, a retired tap dancer and musician, was a resident of St. Regis Apartments for over thirty (30) years. During her stay here, she lived in about three-four different apartment units all the way from the eighth floor to her last apartment unit on the second floor. Ms. Bland has stated how the manager, Michelle McCray, have been abusive to her and other residents at St. Regis. Over the years as a resident of St. Regis, Ms. McCray would sometimes come to my mother's apartment and take things from her. Michelle would "get rid" of some of my mother's things without any type of written consent from her or myself as her legal guardian. My mother would say to me, "Michelle threw this away or that away.." I moved my mother out of St. Regis in the summer of 2008 to bring her to the Atlanta, GA area to care for her due to her failing health. Since this was a spare of the moment kind of thing, my husband and I weren't able to bring all of mother's belongings with us. The day before we arrived in Kansas City back in 2008, Ms. McCray verified that my mother did keep money in her apartment. My mother stated that she had close to $2,000 in her apartment and Michelle knew about the money. But the day we arrived, we couldn't find a penny of it nowhere. My husband and I packed my mother's albums, CD's, some papers, photos, figurines, etc. which we brought some of these items with her to Atlanta (photos were taken of my mother's things in the apartment). Ms. McCray had accessed to my mother's mail and government checks. We left Ms. McCray the responsibility of giving her last two social security checks totaling the amounts of $500 to our Cousin Duane E. Harvey, Funeral Director/Owner of Duane E. Harvey Funeral Home in Kansas City, MO to move my mother's belongings out of St. Regis Apartments. I'm not sure if Duane actually received the money or cashed them because Ms. McCray didn't have Mr. Harvey a sign a receipt or documentation to that fact. When I returned to K.C. back in October of 2009 to get the rest of my mother's things from Mr. Harvey's home, it wasn't even 1/3 of her property that we left in her apartment back in July of 2008. Cousin Duane didn't seem to know what had happened to all of my mother's things. The antique albums, VHS tapes, etc. that my husband had packed and left packed in boxes in her apartment in 2008 had been opened. The VHS tapes were just thrown throughout my cousin's basement. Duane had stated that when he went to get the boxes, they had already been opened up and not packed in anything. That's abuse because of the money we spent by going to U-Haul on Troost near St. Regis to buy boxes, tapes, and paper to neatly pack my mother's property. So somebody went into the apartment. My husband changed my mother's lock on her apartment we when first went to KC to bring her back in 2008. So the only person who had a new key was Michelle McCray and/or her management people. This past October of 2009 when my husband and I went to St. Regis unannounced is where we found my mother's electric wheelchair and her almost brand new queen size bedroom set in the basement area of St. Regis. Ms. McCray didn't admit what happened to mother's tall lamp with the drooping lights. I explained to Ms. McCray that I would need help getting her bedroom set due to its size. When we got someone to pick up the bedroom set, I kindly told Ms. McCray that my relative would be there on that Saturday. No was available on Friday but for some reason, Michelle couldn't wait until Saturday. She threw my mother's almost brand new queen bedroom set in the dumpster on the side of the building there at St. Regis and I have the photos to prove it. I ended up contacting the American Jazz Museum on 18th & Vine where my mother is featured as a tap dancer/musician in the Blue Room and just recently in the Women's Exhibit along with Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. One of the staff members there, Ms. Price, was able to get some men from a local church nearby to help us. When we arrived, the bedroom set was in the trash. Ms. McCray even had the nerve to drive to the back of the building leaving work that Friday (October 18th/19th).. just to see what we were doing. Our family have never threatened or disrespected Ms. McCray in anyway. Someone also stolen my mother's identity while she was a resident at St. Regis and used it to purchase a total of around $6,000 on the internet by buying things like baby furniture, clothing, electronics, etc. through an e-Bay account. I have been in touch with Wilford Kong, the E-Bay Investigator, concerning this matter. Sometimes Ms. Cray would say to mother, "Get your old nasty but upstairs, etc....I'm sure my mother is aware of other residents and how they were treated at St. Regis. Ms. Bland is still in her right mind and has a good long term memory if any of your staff members would like to interview her. We can be contacted at the e-mail and number documented on this website. This is definitely "Elderly Abuse" and something needs to be done before someone gets hurt or killed at St. Regis. Sincerely, Sheila Bland-Rose, daughter of Marsha Clair Bland, lifetime resident of St. Regis Apartments - 1400 East Linwood, K.C., MO. 64109
McCray sounds like a real angel. Also sounds like she isn't above making a little cheddar of her tenants. It would be interesting if there turned out to be a connection between the buyer in her real estate flip. Great story. Now I'll wait for the Hyde Parkers to start screaming "We Told You So!!!!!" In 3....2...1....
My mother, Marsha Clair Bland, a retired tap dancer and musician, was a resident of St. Regis Apartments for over thirty (30) years. During her stay here, she lived in about three-four different apartment units all the way from the eighth floor to her last apartment unit on the second floor. Ms. Bland has stated how the manager, Michelle McCray, have been abusive to her and other residents at St. Regis. Over the years as a resident of St. Regis, Ms. McCray would sometimes come to my mother's apartment and take things from her. Michelle would "get rid" of some of my mother's things without any type of written consent from her or myself as her legal guardian. My mother would say to me, "Michelle threw this away or that away.." I moved my mother out of St. Regis in the summer of 2008 to bring her to the Atlanta, GA area to care for her due to her failing health. Since this was a spare of the moment kind of thing, my husband and I weren't able to bring all of mother's belongings with us. The day before we arrived in Kansas City back in 2008, Ms. McCray verified that my mother did keep money in her apartment. My mother stated that she had close to $2,000 in her apartment and Michelle knew about the money. But the day we arrived, we couldn't find a penny of it nowhere. My husband and I packed my mother's albums, CD's, some papers, photos, figurines, etc. which we brought some of these items with her to Atlanta (photos were taken of my mother's things in the apartment). Ms. McCray had accessed to my mother's mail and government checks. We left Ms. McCray the responsibility of giving her last two social security checks totaling the amounts of $500 to our Cousin Duane E. Harvey, Funeral Director/Owner of Duane E. Harvey Funeral Home in Kansas City, MO to move my mother's belongings out of St. Regis Apartments. I'm not sure if Duane actually received the money or cashed them because Ms. McCray didn't have Mr. Harvey a sign a receipt or documentation to that fact. When I returned to K.C. back in October of 2009 to get the rest of my mother's things from Mr. Harvey's home, it wasn't even 1/3 of her property that we left in her apartment back in July of 2008. Cousin Duane didn't seem to know what had happened to all of my mother's things. The antique albums, VHS tapes, etc. that my husband had packed and left packed in boxes in her apartment in 2008 had been opened. The VHS tapes were just thrown throughout my cousin's basement. Duane had stated that when he went to get the boxes, they had already been opened up and not packed in anything. That's abuse because of the money we spent by going to U-Haul on Troost near St. Regis to buy boxes, tapes, and paper to neatly pack my mother's property. So somebody went into the apartment. My husband changed my mother's lock on her apartment we when first went to KC to bring her back in 2008. So the only person who had a new key was Michelle McCray and/or her management people. This past October of 2009 when my husband and I went to St. Regis unannounced is where we found my mother's electric wheelchair and her almost brand new queen size bedroom set in the basement area of St. Regis. Ms. McCray didn't admit what happened to mother's tall lamp with the drooping lights. I explained to Ms. McCray that I would need help getting her bedroom set due to its size. When we got someone to pick up the bedroom set, I kindly told Ms. McCray that my relative would be there on that Saturday. No was available on Friday but for some reason, Michelle couldn't wait until Saturday. She threw my mother's almost brand new queen bedroom set in the dumpster on the side of the building there at St. Regis and I have the photos to prove it. I ended up contacting the American Jazz Museum on 18th & Vine where my mother is featured as a tap dancer/musician in the Blue Room and just recently in the Women's Exhibit along with Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. One of the staff members there, Ms. Price, was able to get some men from a local church nearby to help us. When we arrived, the bedroom set was in the trash. Ms. McCray even had the nerve to drive to the back of the building leaving work that Friday (October 18th/19th).. just to see what we were doing. Our family have never threatened or disrespected Ms. McCray in anyway. Someone also stolen my mother's identity while she was a resident at St. Regis and used it to purchase a total of around $6,000 on the internet by buying things like baby furniture, clothing, electronics, etc. through an e-Bay account. I have been in touch with Wilford Kong, the E-Bay Investigator, concerning this matter. Sometimes Ms. Cray would say to mother, "Get your old nasty but upstairs, etc....I'm sure my mother is aware of other residents and how they were treated at St. Regis. Ms. Bland is still in her right mind and has a good long term memory if any of your staff members would like to interview her. We can be contacted at the e-mail and number documented on this website. This is definitely "Elderly Abuse" and something needs to be done before someone gets hurt or killed at St. Regis. Sincerely, Sheila Bland-Rose, daughter of Marsha Clair Bland, lifetime resident of St. Regis Apartments - 1400 East Linwood, K.C., MO. 64109
like
dislike
