A 99-year-old Wisconsin woman was brutally attacked inside her own home in the early morning hours — and despite calling for emergency help three separate times, no one came to her aid for nearly three hours.
The attack began at 5:15 a.m. when an unknown 22-year-old man broke into the elderly woman’s Milwaukee home. She immediately activated her Life Alert system, which connected her to emergency dispatchers. A Life Alert employee alerted 911 that it sounded like a physical fight was taking place inside the home. Dispatchers assigned the call a low-priority “welfare check” — and sent no one.
Four minutes later, at 5:18 a.m., the woman triggered her Life Alert a second time. This time, a Life Alert employee told dispatchers he believed he heard the intruder threatening to physically harm the woman. The call was upgraded to a “threat” — a level that should have triggered an urgent police response. It was noted in the dispatch log that the suspect was still on the scene. Still, no officers or firefighters were sent.
It wasn’t until 7:51 a.m. — nearly three hours after the first call — that the woman managed to dial 911 directly and describe the attack herself. Within six minutes, Milwaukee firefighters arrived at her home. Police arrived 30 minutes later. She was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The 22-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the home invasion. As of now, no formal charges have been filed and the case has been referred to prosecutors.
Two 911 dispatchers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. The Department of Emergency Communications Director stated that those responsible should have acted with far greater urgency. The investigation remains ongoing.