This is sad

**Guitardeth2** · May 25th, 2004, 11:46 AM

This was on the local news today.

Boy lived alone for three days with dead mother
2004-05-25
By Greg Elwell
The Oklahoman

EDMOND -- A kindergartner will end the school year with his Northern Hills classmates today after teachers discovered he was living alone with his dead mother for three days.
The absence of Tremaine Douglas, 6, from class weighed heavily on teacher Renee Specht's heart, she said Monday. After three days, Specht and Sandra Owens went to investigate where he had gone.

The pair spent their lunch hour Thursday visiting Tremaine's home and found the apartment a mess and Margaret Denise Douglas, 35, dead in a bedroom.

"He's a sweet, loving boy," Specht said. "His mother treasured him, and we felt it was our duty to see what was going on."

When the teachers arrived, Tremaine was watching cartoons in his underwear.

"He was very happy to see us," Specht said. "He said, 'Hello, Miss Specht. Hello, Miss Owens.'"

When they asked him where his mother was, Tremaine ran into the back room then came out and said she was sleeping, Specht said. The teachers went to the apartment complex manager, who entered the bedroom to find Douglas on the bed.

Her doctor said she had a history of heart problems, police said.

Back at school since Friday, Tremaine is doing well, all things considered, Specht said.

"He's happy to be back with his friends," she said.

The bond between mother and son was evident, Specht said. Their apartment walls were decorated with pictures of Tremaine and school projects, she said.

"They were very close," Specht said. "When kids make cards for their parents for Christmas or Mother's Day, you usually don't get much of a response. When he gave her a Mother's Day card, she said it was the best gift she'd ever got."

Police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said Specht's concern for Tremaine, who is autistic, proved what kind of people teachers are.

"I think we have a true hero in our midst," she said. "Teachers are very special, and this one proved beyond a doubt how special they can be."

It's a good thing his teachers cared enough to go look for him, no telling what might have happened to him.

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ May 25, 2004 08:54 AM: Message edited by: Guitardeth. ]</font>