- Jan 7, 2002
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Autistic Boy Found Living With Mother's Corpse
EDMOND, Okla. -- An autistic boy who missed three days of school was found by his kindergarten teachers at home -- watching cartoons and unaware that his mother was dead in the same apartment.
Renee Specht and Sandra Owens became worried when 6-year-old Tremaine Douglas did not show up for class, and went on their lunch break last week to look for him.
They found the youngster in his underwear in the messy apartment, watching television. Authorities believe he had been alone for three days, living off cereal and Pop Tarts.
"He was very happy to see us," Specht said. "He said, 'Hello, Miss Specht. Hello, Miss Owens."'
When asked where was his mother, the boy ran into a bedroom, then came out saying she was sleeping, Specht said. The teachers went to an apartment complex manager, who found 35-year-old Margaret Denise Douglas dead.
No autopsy was performed on the boy's mother, but investigators with the examiner's office said she had a long history of heart problems and died of congestive heart failure.
Specht described Tremaine as a "sweet, loving boy," and that his mother treasured him.
"They were very close," Specht said. "When kids make cards for their parents for Christmas or Mother's Day, you usually don't get much of a response. When he gave her a Mother's Day card, she said it was the best gift she'd ever got because he wrote it for her."
Tremaine, now living with a relative in the Oklahoma City area, has since returned to school, officials said.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved
EDMOND, Okla. -- An autistic boy who missed three days of school was found by his kindergarten teachers at home -- watching cartoons and unaware that his mother was dead in the same apartment.
Renee Specht and Sandra Owens became worried when 6-year-old Tremaine Douglas did not show up for class, and went on their lunch break last week to look for him.
They found the youngster in his underwear in the messy apartment, watching television. Authorities believe he had been alone for three days, living off cereal and Pop Tarts.
"He was very happy to see us," Specht said. "He said, 'Hello, Miss Specht. Hello, Miss Owens."'
When asked where was his mother, the boy ran into a bedroom, then came out saying she was sleeping, Specht said. The teachers went to an apartment complex manager, who found 35-year-old Margaret Denise Douglas dead.
No autopsy was performed on the boy's mother, but investigators with the examiner's office said she had a long history of heart problems and died of congestive heart failure.
Specht described Tremaine as a "sweet, loving boy," and that his mother treasured him.
"They were very close," Specht said. "When kids make cards for their parents for Christmas or Mother's Day, you usually don't get much of a response. When he gave her a Mother's Day card, she said it was the best gift she'd ever got because he wrote it for her."
Tremaine, now living with a relative in the Oklahoma City area, has since returned to school, officials said.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved
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