2 women died after heat soared in Denver Housing Authority apartments

Shawn Pope shared that he had a very close relationship with his mother, Shirlyne Johnson. He would call her every day, sometimes multiple times a day.

Despite occasionally being tired of his frequent calls, Johnson always welcomed them because Pope was her son. She took care of him when he was attacked by a gang at 15, resulting in a severe head injury that required him to relearn basic motor skills.

Johnson herself battled health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Since 2021, she had been residing in the Thomas Bean Towers, a 13-floor apartment complex in the Five Points neighborhood managed by the Denver Housing Authority.

On May 19, 2023, Johnson reported to the front desk that her HVAC was blowing hot air, despite mild temperatures outside. Maintenance did not address the issue.

Three days later, Johnson raised the concern again, and a staff member promised to fix it that day.

Feeling exhausted, Johnson told Pope on the phone that she had suffered all weekend. The next day, Pope and his wife found Johnson unresponsive in her apartment, which was excessively hot.

Upon investigation, the Denver medical examiner determined that Johnson’s unit had reached dangerously high temperatures, leading to her death. Her body temperature at the time was 111 degrees.

Johnson’s children filed a lawsuit in September, attributing her death to the Denver Housing Authority’s negligence in responding to her complaints promptly. The medical examiner concluded that her death was caused by cardiovascular disease exacerbated by heat exposure.

Tragically, Johnson’s death was not the first heat-related fatality at Thomas Bean Towers. Another resident had died under similar circumstances in 2019.

Despite previous incidents, the Denver Housing Authority failed to implement changes to prevent such tragedies in the future, as highlighted by city health officials.

Following Johnson’s death, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease occurred in the building, further underscoring the housing authority’s negligence in addressing health and safety concerns promptly.

The Denver Housing Authority declined interviews due to ongoing litigation but emphasized its commitment to resident well-being.

Pope and Latrisse Johnson urged the Denver Housing Authority to revise its policies to prevent similar tragedies and ensure greater accountability.

Previous Heat-Related Deaths

Four years before Johnson’s passing, another resident of Thomas Bean Towers succumbed to hyperthermia.

The apartment complex, catering to low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities, is overseen by the Denver Housing Authority, which manages thousands of affordable housing units in the city.

The lawsuit detailed the unfortunate death of Diann Cooper Williams in 2019, who passed away in her overheated apartment amid remediation efforts. Despite the extreme temperatures, DHA allegedly failed to provide Williams with alternative accommodations.

Williams’ death was attributed to environmental exposure due to hyperthermia, aggravated by underlying health conditions.

Hyperthermia, or heat stroke, is a severe heat-related illness that can lead to organ failure and death if not promptly addressed.

In response to the tragic incidents, the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment criticized DHA for its inadequate response and failure to prevent future fatalities.

Public health officials made several recommendations to DHA, emphasizing the importance of improving work order response policies and conducting regular maintenance of ventilation units to prevent similar incidents.

Thomas Bean Towers has faced various health and safety challenges over the years, including bedbug infestations, floods, and Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.

Seeking Justice