Fannie Mae won’t foreclose on woman who shot herself
Associated Press
AKRON — Mortgage finance company Fannie Mae has said it will forgive the mortgage debt of a 90-year-old woman who shot herself in the chest as sheriff’s deputies attempted to evict her.
Addie Polk’s plight was cited by Cleveland-area Rep. Dennis Kucinich on the U.S. House floor Friday before representatives voted to approve the enormous rescue plan to save the financial industry and prop up the economy. Kucinich, a Democrat, voted against the plan.
Fannie Mae announced later Friday that it would dismiss its foreclosure action, forgive Polk’s mortgage and allow her to return to the Akron home where she’s lived since 1970.
“Just given the circumstances, we think it’s appropriate,” Fannie Mae spokesman Brian Faith said, citing Kucinich’s statement and news reports. “It certainly made our radar screen.”
Polk remained in Akron General Medical Center and was expected to recover from chest wounds suffered Wednesday.
She became the home’s sole owner in 1995 when her husband died, then took out a mortgage loan in 1997 and refinanced several times after that, court and property records showed.
Countrywide Home Loans filed for foreclosure last year, and Polk’s home was sold to Fannie Mae at a sheriff’s auction in June. Deputies were to escort Polk from her home Wednesday when gunshots were heard inside.
Polk’s longtime neighbor, Robert Dillon, climbed through her window and found her lying in bed bleeding with a gun next to her. He visited Polk in the hospital on Friday.
“She said it was a crazy thing to do, now that she’s had time to think about it,” Dillon said.
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Filed by Associated Press October 6th, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 2% |
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Comments
Comment from
mm-ww
October 6, 2008, 8:01 am
Hmm, maybe if I should myself I can keep my vehicle that I am about to lose. My thing is, if you cant do it for everyone then dont do it for anyone. What about the other article about the other woman who isabout to lose her house, should she try to kill herself too? FNME is so messed up. I think this also shows the guilty side of FNME feeling bad for letting someone like her refi so many times she couldnt afford it anymore.
Comment from
JSalvatore
October 6, 2008, 8:55 am
That one way to get out of debt, Fannie mae should also pay for her medical.
Comment from
mae
October 6, 2008, 9:25 am
When I thought about a 90 year-old woman being so devasted about losing her home that she tried to kill herself, tears came to my eyes. Regradless of the circumstances that led up to the foreclosure, it is awful that someone has to have this happen at the end of their life. Yet, the first comment I see, by mm-ww, is some piece of heartless crap. If anyone can be hard against people it’s me, but this is horrible. The same with last week’s derogatory comments about the 84 year-old judge. What is wrong with everyone???
Comment from
JSalvatore
October 6, 2008, 9:36 am
lol…. the judge I remember that story… I would have given him a stamp to mail the card.
Comment from
Lovinglife4me
October 6, 2008, 9:51 am
What was Fannie Mae doing buying a house at a sheriff’s auction??? Poor woman. I hope this doesn’t start a rash of people shooting themselves to keep their home.
Comment from
elyriaresident88
October 6, 2008, 9:51 am
sorry, but i have to agree with mm-ww … i saw this story on the news and said the very same thing … i’m not about to lose anything, but let me call my mortgage company and see just how severe i have to make my injury for them to pay off my loan. sorry she’s 90, sorry she made a mistake, sorry she’s by herself, but if you’re gonna do it for one, should do it for all … everyone has their own circumstances, who can be the judge as to who gets excused and who doesn’t? I don’t think it’s being insensitive, just think it’s being fair and realistic with the way things are going …
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