Wings of a Bird

Body overlooked in bustle of hurricane rebuilding - CNN
As his family and neighbors focused on rebuilding homes and lives battered by Hurricane Rita, few gave much thought to Larry Euglon's long absence.
"All the neighbors asked where Mr. Larry was," said Osborne Johnson, who lived across the street from Euglon for more than 20 years. "We decided he had evacuated with other people and didn't have the chance to come back."
In fact, he never left. The skeletal, mummified remains of the 51-year-old recluse were recently discovered lying on his bed inside his home, which had no major storm damage but was still enveloped by thick branches from two splintered oak trees.
Now people wonder why it took nearly 18 months for Euglon to be found in this southeast Texas city.
...
Some wonder why Euglon's family didn't check on him. He had a daughter, ex-wife and other relatives who lived in Beaumont.
But Dorothy Euglon, who lived less than a mile away on the same street, says criticism is unfair.
"You could have knocked on that door until hell freezes over and he was not going to let you in," she said. "He did it. Not the family. He disassociated himself and to this day I don't know why."
He shunned most human contact, only coming out of his home to walk around his neighborhood, usually with his head down, and often ran away when he met relatives on the street.
Zenja Hughes, Euglon's former sister-in-law, recalled seeing him dressed in winter clothes during hot weather and saying people were out to get him. ...