A 99-year-old Milwaukee woman survived a terrifying home invasion only to face another ordeal: waiting nearly three hours for help to arrive after repeatedly calling for assistance, authorities said.
The woman was attacked in her home early Monday morning by a 22-year-old man she did not know, according to local ABC affiliate WISN. She placed her first call for help at 5:15 a.m. using her Life Alert system while the suspect was heard on the line making threats to harm her.
Background
The woman made two separate calls through her Life Alert medical alert device before anyone was sent to her home, according to reporting by WISN and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. During those early morning calls, she can be heard begging for help while the alleged assailant told her he was going to beat her.
The first call came in at 5:15 a.m. and was given a "level three priority" designation as a welfare check, even though Life Alert employees told 911 dispatchers it "sounds like a physical fight going on." The second call, placed four minutes later at 5:18 a.m., included reports of a man threatening to physically harm the woman. A Life Alert employee told the dispatcher he believed he heard a male voice saying he was going to hurt her.
Despite the escalating nature of the calls and notations that the suspect remained on scene, no first responders were dispatched to check on the elderly woman.
The Investigation
It was not until 7:51 a.m. — nearly three hours after her initial cry for help — that the woman called 911 directly and explicitly stated she had been attacked. She told dispatchers: "I've been attacked… A man came through the door and knocked me down, and came in the house. He must have been on drugs or something, I don't know." She added, "He was kicking me."
Following that third call, first responders were immediately dispatched. Firefighters arrived within six minutes; police followed approximately 30 minutes later.
The woman was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. She was expected to survive the attack.
Milwaukee Police arrested a 22-year-old suspect in connection with the home invasion, though no charges had been filed as of Thursday. The case is being referred to prosecutors for review, according to authorities.
Department of Emergency Communications Director Tony Bueno confirmed that two 911 dispatchers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into their handling of the calls.
Key Takeaways
- The woman called Life Alert twice between 5:15 and 5:18 a.m. but no first responders were sent to her home despite reports of an ongoing attack
- Nearly three hours elapsed before she directly called 911 at 7:51 a.m., triggering an immediate emergency response
- Firefighters arrived within six minutes; police arrived approximately 30 minutes after the third call
- The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to survive
- Two 911 dispatchers have been suspended on paid administrative leave as investigations continue
What's Next
The home invasion case is being referred to prosecutors for potential charges against the arrested suspect. The Department of Emergency Communications investigation into the delayed response is ongoing, according to Director Tony Bueno.