Bank robbery that never was?? (aka Dem Bones)

[PegLeg45]

File this one under WTH?!?
I wonder, since the guy was wanted, if this was a failed robbery attempt that went horribly wrong for him and well for the bank?

Bones found in Louisiana bank chimney identified

ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) — Authorities say bones found in the chimney of a bank in Louisiana have been identified and belong to a man who has been missing for 27 years.

The man's remains were found in May when the bank started renovations. Abbeville police Lt. David Hardy says the remains belong to Joseph W. Schexnider. He was 22 years old when his family last saw him in January 1984.

At that time, Schexnider was wanted for possessing a stolen car, but it's not clear exactly why or when Schexnider entered the chimney.

Officials couldn't determine how he died, but police speculate that he starved.

The bank closed off the chimney in the mid to late 1980s.

http://news.yahoo.com/bones-found-louisiana-bank-chimney-identified-225930961.html

[sledgemeister]

Was he found wearing big black boots and a red suit?

[Pathfinder]

Seriously crappy way to die.

[Big Frank]

How many days does it take to starve to death? However long it's too many.

[PegLeg45]

How many days does it take to starve to death? However long it's too many.

I expect thirst was the final culprit in his death. Humans can go weeks without food. Three to four days without water and it's time for a stanza of Shall We Gather at the River.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

I expect thirst was the final culprit in his death. Humans can go weeks without food. Three to four days without water and it's time for a stanza of Shall We Gather at the River.

Three or four weeks, three or four days, three or four minutes.

Food, water, air.

It might also be a possibility that his chest was so compressed that he would have trouble breathing and chimneys are not known for their dust free environment.   This would also explain why no one heard any shouts for help during the time it would take  him to die of thirst or starvation.

[tombogan03884]

You would think that after a week or so some one might have noticed the stink.

[Timothy]

Yea, I trapped a squirrel in a closed off fireplace by accident and it died.  It stunk up the house pretty badly.  My dog finally convinced me to take a peek cuz he wouldn't leave it be!  Pretty nasty...

[PegLeg45]

You would think that after a week or so some one might have noticed the stink.

That was actually my first thought (and that of my wife when I was telling her about the article). Having had a dead possum between the floor and insulation of a house (and a squirrel in the ceiling a different time), I can't imagine a human going un-noticed.....unless Louisiana had a particularly cold January that year....but even then, he had to thaw sometime.   

[Pathfinder]

Guys, think about it. The guy was in the chimney, not the fireplace or between the floors. Chimneys are sealed so that bad stuff (like smoke and carbon monoxide) won't leak into the house. Rotting flesh smell will not get out either. Also, the chimney has draft - well, maybe not too much with him stuck in there - but some draft that would take the stink out the top. Or possibly - being Louisiana - they didn't use the furnace for a long time, there was no draft and he just decomposed in place. At most, in a properly maintained furnace and chimney, the odor may have wafted out of the chimney top and been dispersed so that there would be a foul odor, but no obvious source.

Imagine if you will - stuck in a chimney, not able to move, not being able to scratch your nose when it itches or wipe the sweat or dust out of your eyes, dust getting sucked into your lungs and throat aggravated by screaming your throat hoarse from calling for help, slowly (over a couple of days) dehydrating into dementia and then death. Like I said earlier, a truly and seriously sucky way to die.