Peoria woman suffers heat-related death

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood pronounced Julia Morgan, 61, dead at 10:55 a.m. Sunday due to extreme heat stress. (Facebook/Peoria Police Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

PEORIA – A Peoria woman died over the weekend due to the extreme heat.

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Julia Morgan, 61, was found unresponsive and not breathing Sunday morning in a home in the 2000 block of West Howett Street. Morgan was pronounced dead at 10:55 a.m.

Harwood said the temperature inside the house was 97 degrees and Morgan’s cause of death was due to extreme heat stress.

A man was also found confused and incoherent in the house. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of suspected heat-related illness. His condition is unknown.

Officers on the scene found a window A/C unit sitting on the floor, but not producing any cool air.

A family member said the couple was unable to lift the unit and properly place it in the window of the home for cooling.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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