The Texas Cat Lady's HOUSE OF HORRORS

WARNING -- Distressing content
Time Stamps:
#3 -- "DIY" -- 0:40 -- Man builds home defense system to ward off master thief
#2 -- "The Loner" -- 10:47 -- Police discover House of Horrors in Texas
#1 -- "Hellfire" -- 20:59 -- Workers are asked to make repairs inside an active boiler
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This is Part 32 of the series: "Top 3 places you CAN'T GO & people who went anyways..." full playlist: • Top 3 places you CAN'T...
For entertainment purposes only. Based on actual events.
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[@dethslo6078]

I hate stories like the third one where the deaths could have been completely avoided if it wasn’t for a company’s greed and complete disregard for safety. In the end, paying off the families probably cost more than it would have taken to turn off the boiler. They literally forced their workers into suicide. I hope the families of those who died are doing ok

[@Deanned1986]

💯

[@capntbaggins9262]

Yea remind me of cmp

[@unknownkadath1289]

Problem is, by the way it is told, this was standard practice for doing this. So while one incident might have cost more to pay off the families, overall having not shut the boilers down for any other maintenance, it likely cost them less. Very, very sad.

[@xLLC.]

Prayin on their karma

[@richardflorence3927]

@@unknownkadath1289 most likely the build-up was getting worse each time they did it... Had they done it correctly in the first place and ensure that it was all removed before going on each time then it would have probably never even gotten to that point this time.... IMHO...

[@bradbland9307]

Always amazes me when a man gets into a situation he can’t handle even being drowned in Lava our first instinct is to call mom. Mom isn’t going to let anything happen to us. Just have to get a hold of mom and she will have authorities here before I can hang up the phone. It’s that little boy in us that never goes away. She’s been bailing us out our whole life so it makes sense. To all the moms in the comments God Bless you.

[@blackkittens.]

♡♡♡♡♡

[@promontorium]

Yeah part of me thinks it's pathetic, part of me is a bit jealous. My mom stopped being a mother to me when I was about 5 so I didn't have anything like a mother growing up. I had adults who would mock me and laugh at me if I was hurt.

[@intuitivemischief3167]

@@promontorium Your story breaks my heart. You were surrounded by wounded people. I hope you have been able to use them as examples of what NOT to be and found some peace and love in your life.

[@liku9832]

@@intuitivemischief3167 well said. May his/her spirit be healed by your message

[@Halogen511]

I'm not a mom but my maternal instincts shot through the roof when I heard that part of the story. Like full blown protect mode. I couldn't even imagine the absolute horror that mother felt after hearing her baby on the other side of the phone. And the fact that she has to live with hearing that phone call for the rest of her life is haunting. Tampa Electric does tons of shady things, especially putting their workers in danger constantly!

[@raidendragon8780]

I can't believe the police never thought of the attic.

[@sebastianhichborn6172]

the cops did search the attic its just that they did not check under that board

[@marilopez42111]

@@sebastianhichborn6172 but the guy saw the floor board quick so if they did they would’ve found Mary it was sticking up a lot.

[@V1z10n]

They were lazy.

[@paulwillard9687]

They couldn’t fit up the hatch

[@HighlandMama]

Did they not notice the ladder down...

[@agdoren]

As soon as he started describing the slag I knew exactly how poor Antonio would die. I just didn't know it would be so needless.

[@mythicyodler2422]

proves corporations dont care about human life. only money.

[@shadowman9641]

@@mythicyodler2422 Well not to mention the corporation can get sued for something like this and there’s not a d a m n thing they can do about it.

[@sashachitownvillegas6850]

it was so horrible they wouldn't turn off power just to save a few bucks,& cost 4 lives that you can't put a price on😡

[@liliivanova2920]

@@sashachitownvillegas68505 out of 6

[@jencita8509]

It was 5 lives (out of the 6.) Corporate rule, capitalism run amok, will continue to cause stories like this one. Unnecessary deaths just as long as they protect their bottom line; money.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

The story with her being trapped with nobody to help her, starving or suffocating to death is one of the worst ways to go. Really sad death, rest in peace to the cats as well.

[@joeround533]

She must have died of dehydration first before starvation. I can't imagine the distress and utter sadness and despair. Could take up to three days with no water.

[@dinarusso3320]

I don't understand why the cops never looked up there!!??

[@yellowrubberducky81]

@@dinarusso3320 I guess they could have done but if they were thinking to look for her body, it probably wouldn't have caught their attention to investigate the floorboard being broken, they were probably looking for a body. The thing that makes me so sad about her story is probably the fact that she would have known her cats would die as well and as an animal lover, I bet it just broke her heart.

[@GlennaVan]

@@dinarusso3320 The police may have looked up there but there would have been no reason for them to look into the walls from the attic. It was only by chance she was found then, chance created by curiosity and carrying a flashlight on his phone.

[@vich8810]

Worse than the third story...?

[@justskellie]

This is the saddest sequence of stories, Mr Ballen. You give such detail, care and articulation that has us all mesmerized. Researching these can't be easy, but you are amazing. Thank you!

[@lindaopperthauser2284]

Well said. I 2nd that!

[@roselove706]

I 3rd that!

[@jamesellepullen7570]

We all agree 💯

[@robinboyer4159]

Absolutely

[@donnaallen2207]

Yes, I agree 💯%

[@madderandmadder]

I have a feeling the man in the first story might have been suffering from dementia. It would explain why stuff kept "disappearing" despite no one coming into his property, the very bizarre way of handling home security in extreme paranoia, and the fact he forgot about the booby traps.

[@ItsNeverAManequin]

that’s a credible theory. either psychosis or dementia or psychosis caused by dementia. both cause extreme paranoia. he may have hallucinated the missing tools. his ‘ home security’ was insane and archaic!

[@michaeldoran4367]

POOPY BUT WHOLE PHOTOGRAPHED BEHIND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BLEACHERS! BUT WAS NOT CLEANED WELL? SO THERE WAS A LOT OF POOP CRUST BUILT UP OVER 17 DAYS😢

[@michaeldoran4367]

MEATY KOK SEEN ON LIVE TV AS A NAKED MAN RUNS ONTO THE BASEBALL FIELD

[@moonfire41]

Why he didn't think to install cameras first is beyond me.

[@plantsredwine759]

​@@moonfire41 people who suffer from dementia sometimes revert back to earlier times in their lives, so he may not have been fully aware home cameras were readily available. Source: my great grandma has dementia and often talks about how happy she is their home remodeling is finally completed and it looks so good...that was completed in the early 70s

[@c.r.k.7162]

As a cat lady myself, I feel so depressed about all those cats and that poor woman who had nobody to rescue her, what a heartbreaking story 😞

[@poppyonline4034]

😢😢😢❤❤❤❤

[@Jamall._irl]

Bomboclaat

[@brandondanforth8342]

I mean, I was expecting that the cats just ate her, until he mentioned no one could find any clue of her and figured if they ate her there would still be skeletal remains at the very least...

[@michaeldoran4367]

​@@poppyonline4034PEENUS FLAVORED SPORTS DRINK. LOGAN PAUL COMES OUT WITH A PEENUS FLAVORED DRINK AND SELLS TO HOMOSEXUALS! MASSIVE VEINY KOK ON THE LABEL. ONLY INGREDIENTS ARE PEENUS SWEAT AND GROUND PUBES!

[@michaeldoran4367]

​@Likebutton485 Peenuses dangling down like a rain forest. Hundreds of dangling peenuses. Monkey runs and jumps off a cliff qand grabs a peenus! The monkey swings and jumps from peenus to peenus and goes across the whole forest off flaccid peenuses

[@meganjubinville4377]

What's even sadder about this story is she probably was sitting there hearing her cats meow for her.

[@lisahanson527]

She was probably talking to them too.

[@laceymccubbins1942]

I thought that same thing 😭

[@cassidyknoke517]

The poor cats. I am am a lover for cats 😢

[@zaarthwren]

@@cassidyknoke517 after my disloyal dog I’m sorely tempted to agree but I still love my crazy little girl even if cuddles has made it clear she chose my sister

[@chrisslate8507]

@@zaarthwren curious of how your dog was disloyal to you... Usually that means they "the animal" isn't taken care of with in means... Or the environment wasn't a well environment for the animals. Edit: Humans/ animals more so use sense of energy and vibes

[@loua9041]

I've learned to recognize the following red flags when watching Mr. Ballen: 1. Small spaces 2. Oversized ovens 3. Cutting corners at workplaces 😬

[@mumenraider]

4. Exploring deep dark caves 5. Being over confident and not taking suggestion of professionals 6. Deep sea aqua diving 7. Anything related with Diving and Caves 8. Solo Hiking in Wilderness.

[@hanifwisanggeni553]

4. water in australia

[@busymom4kc]

Can’t disagree with this list.

[@busymom4kc]

@@mumenraider this list as well.

[@craig8406]

9. The like button.

[@mntryjoseph1961]

The last story is not only heartbreaking, it is horrific! The person who didn't shut off the boiler should be in prison. Companies only think about $$$, instead of thinking about the safety of their crew! The well being of the workers should be top priority no matter what the cost. May all the victims in these stories rest in peace.

[@andrewniles6578]

Agreed. Workplace negligence that leads to workplace death should be charged as manslaughter at least. ... accidents are one thing. But ignoring proper protocol to save money is wrong and should be treated as such

[@liliivanova2920]

If watching other crime where owners of the yacht were drowned in the ocean, looked to me most horrific, now this one is above all horrific things I heard! May their families be blessed and find comfort! RIP all those poor workers!

[@dontettaton1063]

I've been put in similar situations in a heavy industrial setting. I hope the families sued the fuk out of the company.

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

The company was a public utility.

[@ferdinandfoch7816]

@@oneproudbrowncoat TECO is a privately held subsidiary of a publicly traded for-profit company.

[@phillaughlin852]

Omg that slag story is just horrible, what negligence on that power company, no amount of money would be enough to have a loved one die in such a horrific way. :(

[@ADreamingTraveler]

I cannot imagine getting a voicemail and hearing your son being melted alive while screaming for help. One of the most horrifying things ever

[@giannicyrusmonroe]

i’ve worked at two factories and i’ll say without a doubt, they do not care as long as you’re making them money. it is a sick thing to see the amount of greed that will put employees lives at danger :(

[@unknownuser8454]

ill take money over family lmao, idgaf abt my family

[@ganjalfcreamcorn8438]

@@unknownuser8454 thats nice, thanks for sharing

[@arcturus4317]

@@unknownuser8454 From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

[@nonamemcgee4720]

The third story is unimaginable. Just thinking of what those men had to go through completely breaks my heart. I hope the families are doing ok and may those men rest in peace. I hope that company was up to their necks in fines and lawsuits that ended up being ten times more expensive than just turning that boiler off in the first damn place.

[@Braiseee]

They didn't care bc stopping power production is worth to them more than payouts or lawsuits for killing their own employees. They are likely still operating and do not regret it.

[@nonamemcgee4720]

@@Braiseee you're probably right. Which sucks

[@johnmelon45]

@@nonamemcgee4720 yes sad but true. Were talking tens of thousands of dollars a minute. It's all about money. Always has been always will be

[@dallywang6143]

I’m sure they blamed it on some small level manager saying that this was not handled according to the company guidelines even though off the record they probably told that manager that boiler can’t be shutdown no matter what.

[@deecee4644]

@@Braiseee It's patently absurd to suggest they don't regret the loss of 5 lives. I bet you're one of those people who think big business is evil. Yes the people who run/ran this company made a terrifically horrible decision but to suggest they don't regret it is just plain ignorant.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

One thing I've never understood about the cat lady story is how was the attic not checked by police? The hatch/ladder would have been down right? Surely they'd go up and check and not just close it. Was it already closed? how/why would it be closed if she went up and then fell? There has got to be a detail missing.

[@kelsijodryer6348]

My thoughts exactly.

[@jankington216]

@@jynx3978 so you're gay?

[@usmanhussain1042]

@@jynx3978 WTF???????

[@alisonmercer5946]

I wonder whT those walls were made of because it seems like u should be able to kick through most walls.

[@franzjullius3287]

@@jynx3978 i think this propaganda bot got misdirected

[@meimei8718]

I’m so choked up on this one with the boiler. I can’t even imagine what the family especially the mom felt during all that including the settlement process. No amount of money can ever replace that son, that father… It’s so horrible.

[@Coopersboy7]

Regarding the last story, to all my fellow industrial construction and maintenance workers, if a boss man asks you to something you know or feels is dangerous, for you and the others involved, say something. That boss man may want that plant or mill to run at all costs, but the world will keep turning if it’s shut down for maintenance. Stay safe

[@cdes1776]

Whistleblowers get fired.

[@DragonologyDpt]

Better fired than dead

[@AnonymousDumboOctopus]

@@cdes1776 Good thing there's laws against that

[@cdes1776]

@@AnonymousDumboOctopus Unfortunately it still happens though.

[@ifgezroxy]

Well said. I used to be a maintenance technician in Finland. Everytime we did something, the main power switches had to be turned off, and double locked by me (technician) and my co-worker (electrician). When both locks were removed, our boss gave permission to start the machines. Before my boss got promoted, he worked as technician himself. He injured himself once at work and lost one finger, so he took every possible precaution that the same thing didn't happen to us. I considef myself very lucky to have been working for such awesome boss. I moved on from there, but I still keep in touch with my ex-boss to this day.

[@Asia107]

That last story hurt to hear. I cannot imagine what his family especially his mom and his girlfriend felt after learning about his horrific demise. I hope that Tampa Electric has decided to no longer take short cuts. That should’ve never happened. Prime example of a big business putting their dollars before the lives of their human assets.

[@susanprendergast7384]

Yes, you're right. Government *is* big business. Run by the same selfish weasels.

[@roserollins9800]

I can't imagine the guilt she must have felt when she played the message although most likely there was nothing that could have been done God bless her and her family

[@cinderellaashtray6165]

That story made me absolutely miserable

[@thomasewing2656]

@@cinderellaashtray6165 Mom! AAGGHH!!

[@maryscott9430]

I live there. Really close to the Teco plant. They are still cutting corners. Theres accidents every cpl years.

[@chmc2310]

I've had to climb inside different parts of 5 story coal boilers at a powerplant. Even after being shut down for weeks, some of the spaces we went into were like crawling into an oven. My stomach turned as I heard what they were going to do. Too many companies preach "safety first " when it's really "dollar first ".

[@TheTeslacoilz]

It's infuriating to hear the workplace deaths bc it all comes down to negligence by upper management. They wanna save money so they cut corners causing death or dismemberment. Like the Smirnoff bottling plant story he shared a while back. It's just devastating and sad

[@HowdyMcPickles]

@@TheTeslacoilz In my career, I've only been screamed at once. It was shortly after I was promoted to a supervisor position. A near suicidal employee recently quit and when asked why she did, I responded that she was too stressed out, that she was only a human being. Upper management's response to me was "No, she's not human! She's a process!!". Yeah OK bro, see ya. I was Audi 5000.

[@brothazoot]

@@HowdyMcPickles Any chance you could share at least the state that this is in? So I never make the mistake of working for any company in that state.

[@BEEZYS-WORLD]

Blaster?, welder? Millwright? Just curious cause I've had to crawl small places on certain tanks sandblasting wen I first started working for my grandpa's company started summertime 96 16 yrs old til 24. I also done it welding I meen tight brotha and deep down a mix level tank man it's like walking down stairs thru small tunnels like ur going down into the great pyramids

[@BEEZYS-WORLD]

Oh your rigger ,insulater or you build them

[@christophermccurry8039]

A settlement? No, that plant manager needs prison time. That was negligent beyond comprehension.

[@CarolineLurks]

The plant manager was one of the people who died

[@canoshizrocks]

@@CarolineLurks Well there's that at least....

[@robotichamlet9263]

The last story blew me away. I actually was born in Tampa and grew up on the outskirts of Wimauma. I literally lived a few miles from what we call “the stacks”, which is the power plant. IVE NEVER HEARD THIS STORY. I’m in shock. Those poor men. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@andreamartinez6929]

I used to live in Riverview and my Ex and I would drive past the powerplant to get to Apollo Beach we used to take our dog there, and the smell was awful

[@Skyscraper2015]

Did you know any of the members of any of the families?

[@controlZchannel]

Businesses run major campaigns to hide these instances

[@ashleyvaughn7848]

The last story was pure horror. I've listened to every story on this channel, and nothing horrified me like that. What an awful way to die.

[@susanrobinson910]

Completely agree with you. I have a really strong stomach for things, but listening to him describe how screwed these workers were… I was thinking while listening that the owners probably weighed the cost of shutting the plant down vs. the cost of paying the families…guess I have become more cynical in my old age!

[@roadster9639]

Honest to God

[@jbeang555]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 I'm so sorry 😞

[@stewartmcleish902]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 so sorry for your loss Daisy.

[@madisonr2323]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 you’re not the wife of Antonio

[@MissJellybean]

The last story makes me so sad and angry. The way that these companies look at people as though they are disposable is disgusting.

[@neglectfulsausage7689]

People are disposable. Your great-great gandparents had two rules. The wife stays home to cook and care for the gene offspring. The husband does dirty, dangerous jobs that have a high death rate to secure resources for the next generation.

[@theogamer1079]

thats humanity for you

[@garycooper8687]

Look up the youtube videos on it. The company looks rough after listening to this. By the way they had other people hurt at a different plant later after saying they would implement safety procedures

[@DEFW21]

Settlement is not enough, those managers should be charged with murder

[@vahgeuvje10]

Shows how little employers care about their employees, $$ first.

[@terireed3740]

I'm so claustrophobic that even just from hearing that story my anxiety level shot through the roof. Poor Mary..and poor cats.

[@colinstewart1432]

The cat lady story is horrifically depressing. But the last story Antonio...I just have no words. Knowing the way the world works, I'll bet the plant boss blamed the dead workers though.

[@konservative-kat1787]

The last story about Antonio really bothered me. So i have spent the last few hours looking through articles. OSHA fined them a little less than $140000 for willful negligence. They also said they were considering reporting them to the DOJ to file criminal charges. Couldn't find any confirmation on whether charges were filed or not. The CEO at the time said admitted that they ignored their own safety guidelines but they would not do it anymore UNTIL the OSHA investigation was concluded. And then they ignored that and did it again just a couple months later. The CEO resigned shortly after that came to light. They had been cutting corners to cut costs and neglecting routine maintenance for years. The union workers at the plant had been complaining for YEARS about being asked to perform these tasks while the boilers were on because they all KNEW it was unsafe and a similar incident occured in 1997 that almost killed 4 people. That is when they changed their policy. Sometime in between they stopped caring about the safety of their workers. Which is why they had to hire contractors to do the dangerous work. Most of the 6 men Mr. Ballen mentioned did were technically contractors hired to do the work. The plant said that money was not a factor in their decision to keep the boiler running, but turning it off and back on would have cost close to a quarter million, would have taken 12 hours to get the boiler back up to temperature once relit, and they were already having trouble with a couple of their other boilers and they were not working at full capacity. Boiler 2's slag hole had been clogged for over 13 hours when hey sent the men inside, even though they knew that the intense temperature and ever increasing weight and even the slightest change in conditions could have cause the hole to clear itself and flow through at any time. Also, that particular plant has the highest number of deaths of all the power plants in the state. They have 10. The next highest had 3. When I started looking I just wanted to know what they were fined and what the settlement amounts were for the families. I could not find the amounts for the families, nor could I find if criminal charges were even filed. BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I WOULD HAVE ORDERED IF I WERE THE JUDGE OF CHARGING THEM FINES. First I would have asked how much money they would have lost if they had shut down the boiler to perform the work. Then I would have multiplied that by 6 for the lives they willingly put in danger. $139000 just isn't enough for all that they did.

[@autumnh5027]

Thank you for sharing this info. It breaks my heart.

[@squishycoveswena]

Oh my good god

[@syrusangi8743]

I have no words.

[@du4lstrik3]

I agree fully, but you have to understand some key principles. The plant hires a lot of people, supplies much of the Tampa area with electricity and has established innate working hazards. With that, the power industry (and any notable big industry for that matter) has a certain amount of influence when it comes to how punishments are handled. Not that I believe they should have any. Public or private, if critical safety measures are ignored because of expense and lives are taken as a result, penalties should be astronomical. At minimum, all personnel overseeing the operations and performed work need to be replaced. But fat cats holding local official positions were probably worried about job losses and brownouts by bankrupting TECO for willful negligence.

[@effeojnedib7208]

I've been industrial maintenance for 45 years and OSHA is nothing but a payoff scheme. Companies still weasel around the rules and regulations. It's a dog and pony show. It's a crying shame that loyal employees are put at risk, so the presidents and CEO's get their bonuses. Safety meetings are a joke. All they want is a signature to show so their asses are covered. I've worked at Canon, International Paper, Sealed Air Corp., Atlas Copco, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, among others. It's the same. Keep the money flowing despite the risk to employees. Have a big Christmas party and act like family. Give a movie ticket or coffee cup to the blue collar worker who put out a fire on the 3rd shift- but had to search the building for an extinguisher that worked. (Canon). They are all about their image in the community and staying out of a negative spotlight.

[@rainbowroses88]

As an Industrial Environmental Health and Safety Supervisor, that boiler story makes me absolutely nauseas. This kind of thing happens so often. I always tell my guys that, to the mill, they're nothing but a warm body with a number. NEVER do ANYTHING without properly shutting down, locking out, and trying out the machinery. What a horrible thing that money was more important to those managers than human life. Absolutely disgusting. Those poor people. :(

[@marcelinedbrl5932]

Are you saying that these accidents happen often ?

[@roka9963]

@@marcelinedbrl5932 unfortunately more than you'd think. Companies would rather save a few bucks than ensure the safety of the workers. And in the end due to law suits and pay outs they end up losing more money in the end than they would have just by turning the thing off.

[@marcelinedbrl5932]

@@roka9963 whaou, cant believe it

[@satah5045]

@@roka9963 what country are you an oc health and safety officer in?

[@joshrefe5277]

Seriously. I cringed during the entire story. RIP to all of those workers.

[@131313user]

The last video is just gut wrenching and sad. Imagine that phone call he made, capturing the last seconds of him being alive. What was he thinking... when his mom played it…& those last seconds while dying slowly in molting fire/lava. Terrible.

[@ADreamingTraveler]

What was he thinking? I think he knew he was going to die there and so he called his mom so he could talk to her one last time. It's so sad :< If you were burning alive in lava I doubt you'd be thinking clearly either

[@pantherbeastly3934]

@@ADreamingTraveler I think they meant it like "I wonder what he must have been thinking in that moment" in stead of "omg what was he thinking calling his mom in that moment?! Why would he do that?".

[@sivartent5638]

Getting burned to death has to be the worst, and I bet most of them didn’t make it 10 steps before the molten metal forced them to succumb to their demise

[@MoriacMumma7]

@@ADreamingTraveler Dad is fun, Mum is comfort.

[@valz2282]

@@ADreamingTraveler bro u take everything this seriously or nah I generally think they jus meant what was he thinking right at that moment they clearly did not mean what was he thinking the idiot u need calm down bro I'm sure ur superiority complex is massive but take it down a notch

[@SuperLibertarianMan]

Never was a cat person myself until we got one about 2 years ago, and then I found a colony of feral cats that numbers about 30 that were malnourished and living out of the local feed mill property; so for the last year and a half or so, I go there every night to feed and water them. It gets expensive, but I've made friends with quite a few of them. It's funny to see the strange looks I get from people to see a large 40 year old dude with a large group of cats surrounding me every night. I wish I had a big enough residence to where I could bring them home, but not possible right now. If I could, I'd buy a decent sized piece of property and start an animal rescue/refuge facility.

[@ellieb445]

I love this 🥹🤍🤍🤍

[@ednaalvarez5975]

Someday you will have a huge place for them, thank you caring these cats❤🙏

[@bobbichandler4204]

Thanks for helping them ❤ That's also my dream to have a sanctuary for cats who have no home and maybe get big enough to help dogs and even farm animals ❤❤

[@kellyharris8976]

The 3rd story is literally the most horrifying way to die. I cannot even wrap my brain around it and I cannot believe Antonio was able to stay with it enough to pull his phone out, call his mom and leave a voicemail. 😢🤯

[@n8guy]

Worse than being trapped tightly in a wall for days, knowing you are doomed, in the midst of cramping muscles, a roaring headache, soiling yourself, either overheated or too cold, and slowly dying of dehydration?

[@tomsuiteriii9742]

For real. Out of all the awful ways to go out I’ve heard about on this channel, I think this one takes the cake. 😓

[@thecosmicalien7891]

@@n8guy Both are awful ways to die in their own ways but it's not a competition buddy. And if it was, getting slowly melted to death is surely way more intense and agonizing then what Mary must've suffered through

[@sandraday6955]

@@n8guy Well not to dismiss that way of dying we had the lady with the genius IQ who snuck in a chimney got caught upside down and slowly died. Just saying... not a competition but the only good way to die is at 99 after a good day out with the family and going to sleep and not waking up.

[@brandocommando7079]

Look up the name György Dózsa and read about how he died. If someone knows of a worse way than that to die then I’d be interested to hear it.

[@jtfl4506]

“Mom I’m burning..” 😢 how awful.. that was one of the hardest to hear 😓 So good to share these stories so others are aware of the dangers in places like that.

[@christinemelton5362]

His poor mother has to relive that Vm forever. So sad for all RIP.

[@roxannemoser]

We have a steam power plant near our home. I can only imagine the accidents that have been covered up. It was owned by Doris Duke, who left the company to her grandson, who had 2 children he kept hidden away from society. They were badly abused. It's an interesting story.

[@59silvereagle]

@@christinemelton5362 Soooo sad 😔😥

[@justinbailey6079]

@@christinemelton5362 made even more tragic by her dead sons story being used as entertainment, monetized and even having sweet sounds effects. Kind of tasteless.

[@Gabby-hw7my]

Literally made me sob and feel nauseous.

[@rebahensley5323]

I feel sorry for the cat lady and her kitties. What a sad situation to be so alone.

[@Punki80]

Can I just leave a compliment for Mr Ballen for explaining everything so well, even the technical stuff, that you understand it all immediately? Especially the boiler technology, I immediately could picture how it works and what happened, even though English is not my first language. Great channel and kudos for all the work he puts into it.

[@krystalwashington3500]

That last one was rough. I get anxious every time I see a story about someone working at a plant. Great storytelling once again, sir!

[@OhellYAEH]

It happened in Pennsylvania too at a battery plant

[@RealmCenter40]

I work in a skilled trade in an environment where there is potential for serious or fatal accidents. I’ve seen a finger lost but that’s about the worst of it, all things considered not horrible. That last story was so full of gross negligence it’s kind of infuriating. Whoever authorized that type of repair and everyone under them in management that green lit it belongs in prison. I hope those families are set for life and then some.

[@TheEnewman2000]

It’s a shame there are never really any consequences for these plants that shirk safety requirements. What a garbage country we live in to let this kind of thing constantly happen.

[@KDu400]

@@OhellYAEH yes, I think he’s told that story too. In fact, at first I thought he was retelling that story in the beginning.

[@RealmCenter40]

@@TheEnewman2000 I know exactly what they did, they grabbed a bunch of rookies and newbies that didn’t even think to question performing that type of ad hoc repair. The journeymen or masters would have told them where to stick it.

[@SanguiphiliaTV]

As soon as you said that the cops couldn't find her after looking all over I thought, "She's in the attic." I didn't even know if there was one in the house but I could just feel it. I wonder if they didn't check it or if they just didn't shine a light into the gap?

[@sandradrake864]

I just want you to know that you are THE BEST story teller I've ever heard. NO ONE COMES CLOSE TO YA. Thank you

[@randomheroat420]

Antonio sounded like a bright, hard working,loving,caring American man just trying to care for his family. May he and and others from that horrible experience rest in peace.

[@daisymartineznavarrete3331]

He sure did thank you from our son and I 🙌🏽🤍

[@marcbloemen2082]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 Respect to you for sharing and responding in this comment section. All the best to you!

[@rockgirl1901]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 I am so sorry that you and your baby will have to go forward in life without the love that I'm sure he would have surrounded you with. God bless you and your baby, I'm sure he is a guardian angel who will watch over and protect you from above.

[@randomheroat420]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 your very welcome, from my family in Cooperstown,NY to yours! No matter where we are in this world, mrballen can portray a sense of humanity and emotion no one else can, without this story I would have never had the honor to hear about Antonio and his loving ,kind heart and the kind of man he was. I wish all us men could be that way. I wish your family well.

[@Salahspoop]

@@daisymartineznavarrete3331 oh sweet girl, I hope you and your baby are doing well. This story broke my heart, especially as a Tampa native this is so upsetting. ❤️❤️

[@Boilermaker-83]

As a seasoned boilermaker (ones who work on those boilers) my opinion like many others, the pay off was a slap in the face. Someone needed to go to prison for a long time for making that decision.

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

the operative word being "needed".

[@corinneripenburg7574]

As a mother I could never imagine having my only son calling me on his death. Condolences and prayer to all those families.

[@kinnc135]

The second story is the saddest of all of the stories you have ever told. Poor woman 💔

[@G-Lew]

i don't agree. i think a young person about to have a kid burned to death in molten slag is worse than that.

[@molindasmith1025]

I disagree, the young man who was going to be a dad was the saddest. He was burned to death by someone else carelessness

[@ilikeme1234]

Both of the last two were terribly tragic. Though I don’t see a need to measure tragedy, I can’t imagine something quite as horrific or sad as melting in lava right before you’re about to become a dad.

[@Alices.last.warning]

I agree with you. Mary's story struck a chord with me too. Very sad and a horrendous way to die.

[@sevtas8422]

@@molindasmith1025 @G-Lew That's ok people can have their own opinions. For what it's worth I agree w you guys.

[@MrMagicMayonnaise]

Ronald’s story feels like dementia /Alzheimer’s and paranoia. The fact that he forgot about the gun he installed as a booby-trap. Possibly remembering tools he used to own at one point, and forgetting they are actually gone. It makes the most sense.

[@tiffanyh.5788]

That actually sad.

[@gnarly9011]

I can't believe you half breeds are claiming AB. 😂

[@Kay-xf9pf]

That’s what I was thinking too

[@boopboop6379]

Jeez. That’s a pretty solid theory actually

[@erinthesystem9608]

Yes! It sounded as if he was a bit bewildered by what had happened, despite having set the trap himself- which is odd behavior in the first place. There's a lot of denial surrounding dementia- until the person reaches a point at which their condition is undeniable.

[@EJ-74]

My God I just couldn't imagine being stuck in a wall. That had to be pure torture. Poor Cat Lady 🙏

[@teijaflink2226]

Poor cats, I bet she would be horrified and so sad if she knew how her cats died too

[@heatherduchene8779]

@@teijaflink2226 it must have been horrifying, being stuck there, knowing that it was hopeless..poor cats too.

[@Isthislife2135]

Cats ate her.

[@kevincampbell9526]

He's done other stories about people getting stuck in claustrophobic places and dying there.

[@marymorris4064]

Its horrific because the cats ate her I'm sure. I hope she had passed on before the cats started seeing her as food. Heartbreaking all around!

[@crayolarayola]

I’m not kidding, that voicemail he was quoting made me cry. I can’t imagine being a mother and just hearing my son screaming for help, and not being able to help. Condolences to his family.

[@Missbecification]

I watched the cat lady story and I was thinking ‘oh my god, that is so full on’, then shortly thereafter, the slag exploding out, and melting everyone to death blew cat lady out of the ballpark. You mentioned all the families received compensation, but I hope to god the company also reviewed their safety standards and made some needed changes! Love your story-telling, thank you.

[@AnjeePanjy]

I looked into it. The power plant TECO got a new CEO about 6 months later. She's reported to be very particular and meticulous when enforcing safety protocols and many changes have been made.

[@liliivanova2920]

👍, I even forgot about first one. Went back to find out! Rip all those hardworking men!

[@MelloYello277]

So f cat lady cuz her death apparently wasn’t as bad? Smh

[@ryandraper6894]

It’s crazy to me that he thought to reach into his pocket and call his mom. If you can’t run away bc it’s melts your bone away to where you just disintegrate how did he think or have time to make a phone call, have it ring 30 sec and reach voicemail. It’s got me beyond curious as to how long it took for him to die. He’s laying on his side partially submerged in literal lava. Hopefully the nerves burnt so quickly there wasn’t much pain, but burning has to be a terrible way to go. Poor man just trying to provide for his family.

[@MrBallen]

I didn’t include this detail, but he was pulled out of it while still alive. He died a week later

[@roadster9639]

And if it’s 6 whatever deep like stated wouldn’t his head be submerged off the rip ??

[@wmdkitty]

Depends on the density of the lava, I'd think. It's not like water, where you're just instantly submerged.

[@lunaballuna]

@MrBallen good lord...that is horrifying. Surely, he was put into an induced coma throughout his stay in the hospital until he passed. I literally can't imagine the type of fear and pain he felt being partially melted while still alert and alive....They should have not only settled with the families (for millions, I hope), but also been sent to prison for negligence and either shut down that factory or put in very good money for upgraded equipment and intense training for everyone, including those at the very top. Hell fire should not have been for those poor men. It should have been for those who were more than willing to put those men in extreme amounts of danger just to save some money.

[@terijackson2010]

@@MrBallen That is seriously the only fact that could make this atrocity worse- I assumed he died immediately. We can only hope he was in a coma on the highest dose of pain medication. His poor family, knowing that he was alert as he was being burned by the slag…

[@nikoleleilani]

The last story is one of the most heartbreaking you've ever told. May his soul rest easy...

[@Nefarious_Bread]

May their souls rest easy.

[@patriciasalvatore9898]

I remember hearing about that terrible incident the day after on the news.

[@snakesghost7817]

The manager responsible for deciding to not turn off the boiler should be sitting in prison for involuntary manslaughter. I'm curious about their punishment after that incident. It just goes to show how greedy humans are "turning off a machine is too expensive, therefore we'll risk unclogging it while it's on". Absolutely horrible....

[@yoginc]

Horrifying to read that only settlements were given to the families of the deceased.😢 I was hoping for a lawsuit, shutdown of the whole company and arrest of the plant manager for criminal negligence.

[@PinkRose-aka-Alexandrite]

@@snakesghost7817 Maybe something more like criminally negligent homicide.

[@goingsnakespiritchaser]

Man... that cat lady story hit hard. As a cat dad myself, I could only imagine what she was going through knowing she couldn't help her babies or herself. As morbid as it sounds, I'm glad they went together at least 🖤

[@glory5110]

I was thinking that too, at least they went together

[@chandlerrose4545]

I wouldn’t want my dog to die with me. I wouldn’t want her to starve alone and afraid just like me. There is nothing romantic about it. It’s just morbid. Here’s some realism, she might have been able to hear them crying.

[@2Evol2]

You’re a weirdo so u would rather ur animals starve to death rather than someone find them soon enough to help them back to health….

[@onefatpiggy]

i feel so sad for Mary and all her cats 😭 people who love animals/strays deserve alot of love and kindness

[@maliekfuller7138]

Rest in peace to Mary, could never imagine the torture she would have gone through. Thank you for sharing these stories

[@scummymummy5955]

Makes me want to check on all my neighbors.

[@greekmethemuscle5768]

dude...Stop spoiling the story cause the comments are visible...

[@DarkHold_User13]

@@greekmethemuscle5768 don't look at the comments? Lmao

[@Twinklez63]

Awful 😞 🙏

[@jaketrat3725]

The biggest thing that make zero sense in the second story is if she went into the attic then who closes the attic door and if it was open why didn’t the polic check up there and even if it was closed why wouldn’t they check up there and if they did how couldn’t they see what happened, also I would assume you can smell a dead body thru insulation, how didn’t anybody smell her when the cats were all cleaned up ????????

[@TinyPlayroom]

Oh my God, my heart breaks from that last story. Unbelievable how companies disregard the safety of their employees. I have a son and I absolutely can't imagine getting a phone call like that.

[@chainuser1774]

The supervisors who authorized the cleaning of the tank without turning the boiler ofg should be in prison! All the company had to do was pay a settlement....absolutely appaling.

[@winry2357]

@@chainuser1774 I work at a coal fired power plant. Cleaning the clinkers is a daily job. It takes hours to shut down the boiler because you have to shut off literally everything else too. Then, it takes hours to come back up. We don’t turn off the boiler to clean the clinkers because then we’d never make electricity and you’d be upset. This is a normal part of everyday work. What isn’t normal was the bridging that happened above. I had two coworkers die a couple months ago because they were walking on the coal pile and a bridge collapsed. It happens. They shouldn’t have been on foot on the coal pile specifically because of that. This was a freak accident. That’s all.

[@dianabalan]

@@winry2357 you can't be serious

[@winry2357]

@@dianabalan I am. It’s a daily thing that must be done and there is no way to turn off and cool the boiler fast enough to make it “safe” then put the fire back in, get everything heated up, and try to get back in the grid. It takes at least a day to cool the boiler to a “safe” temperature to work on it. We would literally have to only produce power for a couple days a week if we did this. What happened to these guys was a freak accident. There *usually* isn’t any bridging above the clinkers and it can be difficult to see if there is. Bridging is extremely dangerous, as they can fall at any time with just the right encouragement. That’s what happened here. I had two coworkers find a bridge in the coal yard a couple months ago, they didn’t make it back to their families, they were buried under 24 tons of coal. It’s a dangerous job, we accept that when we sign up.

[@jubeaumont6305]

@@winry2357 wow. Thanks for the insight. Please could you tell us what the accident rate is at your plant and what country is it located ? Anyway, please be careful at your work , safety first and all that. GB x

[@alexyoung-yp5ll]

Being trapped like that sounds absolutely horrifying.

[@racegirlpeasant6141]

I feel absolutely heartbroken for the cat lady. May her lovely soul rest in peace.

[@caratlandsasukeechan]

You gotta love this man. He has me captivated in each and every story he tells. Also guys, listen to his podcast. Each every episode is so informative even though though you see the actual places.

[@Janni886]

@Divyanka Ghosh 911__ballens held someone captive and he told us in sarcastic morse code 🤣😂😂.

[@bradleymitchell3808]

Hope you catch some likes. You’re fishing for them.

[@30.rioabimanyunugroho54]

frfr

[@MrBallen]

Thank you!

[@ROT4RYfc3s]

I can't watch Mr Ballen late at night bc I won't go to sleep and will continue watching video after video after video, even if I've seen them before. I Def go down the rabbit hole with Mr ballen, also Mike from That Chapter is amazing too

[@renzocheesman6844]

Last story was truly heartbreaking. A young man doing those hazardous jobs for $12 bucks an hour to provide for his soon to be born son. God damn, where did we go wrong

[@Dayum1353]

Smoking on that Antonio pack, RIP Bozo.

[@rat_finkdiam]

Why is it so hard to believe that corporations and companies just look at people as commodities and not as humans with families and lives? I mean, Frito Lay, the sister company of Pepsi, recently had workers hospitalized for injuries and a worker who dropped dead in one of their warehouses. The first thing the people in charge said was, "Who's gonna replace him? We need someone to take over his job right now!" They're heartless. They've always been. Don't see it changing anytime soon, either.

[@renzocheesman6844]

@@rat_finkdiam its not hard to believe, its just hard to take

[@mrtwit5212]

I wonder how the one survived

[@e.l.2734]

@@rat_finkdiam it won't, you're right. The State will always make sure to protect these bigger companies from competition by setting up regulations that smaller business can't afford to abide to and basically making everything more expensive for everyone but the wealthiest among us through inflation, taxation and debt, not to mention when they decide to actively subsidize these companies or bail them out of bankrupcy with our money, so the chance we'll see more ethical companies to choose from anytime soon by temporal means is close to zero. Not only do we have to live with this, we must finantially support them and smile because someone says so. [Edit] Sorry to sound bitter.

[@JanettaB.]

As a mother , Antonio's story , that is haunting and I pray that this man's. Other finds some kind of peace... the pain and heartbreak she must feel everyday. Bless her...

[@2fortsmostwanted]

The saddest part of Mary's death is that she had already died before anyone noticed she was gone. A person can only go about three days without access to water. A more thorough search of her home would not have saved her life. Human connection and support might have.

[@Sticx-tv8kx]

People on meth go more than three days without water all the time.

[@canoshizrocks]

@@Sticx-tv8kx And?

[@Sticx-tv8kx]

​@@canoshizrocks😂

[@michellelowe7082]

Mr. Ballen is probably a really fun dad ! Imagine listening to his spooky stories while camping around a campfire!

[@tylerpowell405]

It would be the bedtime stories for me.

[@WhrsTheMoneyLabowski]

There's no chance in hell I would listen to these stories while camping lol

[@michellelowe7082]

@@WhrsTheMoneyLabowski 😆 🤣 😂

[@prisonshankify]

If there’s anything we have learned from Ballen’s story’s, it’s that nobody is who the appear to be…👀

[@DebbieFromGA]

I picture his kids waking up in the middle of the night with dreams of these stories. Especially the ones where someone or something is watching 👀. I don't listen to these at night. 😆

[@2puffs770]

Mary's story is about THE SADDEST I've ever heard. I can't even imagine the panic she must have felt. I hope she passed quickly, and those POOR CATS! Just heart wrenching, all of it! Now, I'm going to call my elderly neighbor, Virginia, see how she's doing, and make a point of doing this more often.

[@24get24give]

that would mean something good came out of it, at least we should all ber more neighborly like that

[@carolynhoechst3201]

Thank you for thinking about your elderly neighbor enough to check on her from time to time. You just never really know. So many have limited or no contact with the outside world when they live alone with no close family members.🙂

[@Jenacide]

You should set up some sort of system with her, especially if she has any pets that would suffer at her passing. Like a weekly check in or something. Either way thank you for being a good neighbor. Good neighbors make a good community that looks out for eachother and we're all better off for it.

[@tamarasorbo1550]

@@Jenacide that's a great idea ❤️

[@stephenasmith273]

It’s too bad how old she was, a normal young person could’ve broken the Sheetrock to get out

[@sabrinaeycken9759]

The third story was completely heartbreaking r.i.p. and hopefully the families goth the help and support as well mentally as financial they needed.... Again a case that showed that the almighty dollar stands tall

[@jamesone1]

Love a bit of Mr Ballen when I can’t sleep.

[@tersuskog6148]

Wow that third story was so horrific. The way you tell these stories is like watching a movie where you can “see “ what’s happening. All the stories are incredibly tragic and sad. Amazing job!

[@SpydersByte]

agreed. and that last scene was absolutely horrifying to picture

[@meredith2803]

Just beyond awful!! Absolutely horrendous the fact they put money over these poor souls. RIP 😢

[@vickiheitman9771]

This is facts fabulous told as always x

[@dhall75608]

Absolutely horrifying. Has the plant manager, Who should know better, had this done the correct way, it could have been avoided. There are safety measures in place for reasons. It may me expensive to shut down a boiler, but I bet that settlement cost them a lot more.

[@ticrific]

These are my favorites! I love the “places you shouldn’t go and people who went anyways” series, but all of your videos are great

[@rachelcross27]

Those are my fav too.

[@keithandrade1087]

same .. of all. this is the best... i still remember the chimney story.. and the guy who fell down in a place where he could not go back up..

[@naggedd]

They're my favorite too.

[@rich3083]

My favorites were the 411 stories, I'd like for more stories like that, even if it's not directly from the 411 series

[@brendabenjamin155]

Ooo, I don't, they always die. I like the hero ones

[@KatmanJazznBlues]

Love the format of your show. As a musician, I appreciate the music you put in the background, it is just loud enough and you always put it in right before something eerie is about to happen, a great way to prepare your views because, many of these stories are gut wrenching, but at least you give some warning. I also like the fact you cut the endings pretty quick rather than dwelling on the horror of the story's usual gut wrenching outcome, it seems to get me over them more quickly. I have encouraged other folks I know to check this site out, but I usually forewarn them, it usually shows some pretty heartbreaking stories.

[@millysmindtrip1179]

I hope Antonio's wife had a healthy baby and that the child knows how much his dad was looking forward to meeting him. Also hope that child does him proud. Terribly sad about the cat lady and her beautiful cats. Hate to think what a slow and horrible death they all had. Hope they are all together in the hereafter. the kitty innocent lives lost are the hardest just 'cause they cannot understand why.

[@jayduke8554]

This man has re-visited the art of storytelling. He’s gifted.

[@lisar.veneziano1517]

Absolutely. Glad it's coming back in fashion.

[@elliebrinegar6568]

Well said 😉

[@mikemccollum6822]

@@lisar.veneziano1517 ]!apparently c fr

[@mikemccollum6822]

0

[@sadetwizelve]

Yeah they can be convincing if you're not paying close attention to some of the parts that don't add up

[@meganevans839]

Oh my goodness. That last story is absolutely the worst things I've ever heard. I wouldn't be surprised if his mother suffers nightmares for the rest of her life. There are no words to express how awful that is. It made me cry.

[@SuV33358]

It made me scream. I was not expecting that the guy would call his mom while he was burning alive 😞

[@nickbyron6269]

@@jarredfugleberg3994 just because you lack empathy doesn't give you the right to come and belittle people and their feelings.

[@TrevorCollin_]

@@jarredfugleberg3994 you had to troll? Pathetic |3 ! + ( |-|

[@jarredfugleberg3994]

@@nickbyron6269 true. The first amendment is what gives me that right. Go cry about it somewhere else

[@jarredfugleberg3994]

@@TrevorCollin_ shut up Trevor

[@lorrainecragan-sullivan1836]

Each person’s ending was more horrific than the last. Rest in peace.

[@SugMadik2023]

Your stories are very understandable. You explain everything in detailed. Thank you.

[@ivettelily]

That is the worst accident I've ever heard of. It's a nightmare, so heartbreaking. I hope Antonio's family finds peace, especially his mom and wife. Blessings to them.

[@3arthandsky]

Don't forget his unborn child he was was excited about.

[@zomkino]

Blessings to Antonio, i hope HE find peace. you didnt even mentionned him, just his family

[@ivettelily]

@@zomkino My personal belief is that he is at peace. I don't know him, so I have no reason to think he is not in a better place.

[@ivettelily]

@@3arthandsky You are right. So sad.

[@mikeglasgow9618]

As an industrial boiler technician, I arrived for a routine boiler inspection called a C.S.D.1. INSPECTION. ( controls and safety devices ) . This was a very large boiler. As such, it has many safety devices that are there for a reason. What I found was unimaginable. Workers have had a few shut downs due to low water. Each time they would reset the low water control and go about their daily routines. After a few days of intermittent low water levels, someone came up with the brilliant idea of jumping out the low water control. Thus making it inoperable. I failed them on the inspection and notified the plant engineer of my finding. I hated it, but all boiler technicians were fired on the spot. This particular boiler, if it had exploded was large enough to take out the whole building and everyone in it. Possibly neighbors as well. Possibly over 400 - 500 people in the building during the day. SAFETY FIRST.

[@donnawatkins8404]

You did good Mike!

[@Taylormade1212]

Please keep doing what you do👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@mikeglasgow9618]

I don't do what I did do LOL I RETIRED LAST YEAR. The only thing I worry about now is what's for dinner .

[@mikeglasgow9618]

35 years of industrial boiler, chiller , and digital controls is enough for anyone.

[@Taylormade1212]

Oh in that case I definitely hope you’re enjoying your retirement it sounds like it is very much deserved!♥️♥️ I hope that you touched and taught many others to actually care and take their roles as serious as you did we need more Mike’s in the world lol

[@jeranbrown82]

I’m reminded of the old saying “Doing what’s right doesn’t always mean doing what’s easy.” Safety measures are put in place for a reason. Thanks Mr. Ballen for another awesome set of stories!

[@istartedajoke1704]

F SAFTEY MEASURES!!! LETS DDDIIIEEEEE

[@katherineheasley6196]

If you don't follow the channel Fascinating Horror, you should. It's all about disasters that are usually caused by inadequate or ignored safety measures.

[@AuntyNick.]

I don't think it was necessarily about what was easy. It was about what was cheap. Another scum bag company with scum bag procedures. Tampa Electric couldn't care less about their employees they hurt or climate change and everyone on the planet that this hurts.

[@winry2357]

As someone who works in a coal fired plant, poking the grinders is a daily chore. The dangerous part was the plug at the top, which created a perfect storm scenario. Also, safety measures usually actually make out jobs more dangerous because they’re created by people looking at blueprints and not people doing the job.

[@winry2357]

@@paulinepritchett2854 we clean the clinkers while the boiler is running every day. It’s the most dangerous part of the job, but it has to be done. We can’t turn the boiler off because it can take a very long time for the boiler to cool and it takes about 18 hours to get the plant back up and running again. I currently work at a coal fired plant. They probably didn’t even realize that there was a plug, it sounds like they just thought the clinkers needed cleaning. Heck, we use a metal rod, not even power washers. It was just the perfect storm.

[@elisaseverns2543]

I usually keep my cell phone in my pocket when I do anything around my house and yard. I’ve fallen in the past and realized that would be my only way to get help if I was incapacitated. Poor poor Mary and her beautiful cats.

[@joegreenbbka]

The cat lady was trapping cats. Those "cages" in the attic are actuallty traps. She probably went up there to get that one in the photo so she could trap more cats but fell through the floor. Makes more sense to me than cats sunbathing in an attic.

[@Megunyan688]

It's sickening how a company would rather kill people then have to spend money when things start to go wrong. I bet the settlement was still somehow less than the actual amount of money it would cost to turn off one boiler. This story just made me so angry.

[@XMachete]

Rest assured that they had to turn that boiler off for the cleanup and investigation. That slag cooled and hardened so that cleanup wasn’t trivial. Also rest assured they likely chiseled those families in the settlement. What I would want is everyone involved in management fired - and prosecuted for criminal negligence (but the law doesn’t work that way).

[@defletcher2902]

It seems a lot of companies are more concerned with profit than people's lives. They put on a show like "Safety First", but don't actually make safe decisions. Settlements don't bring back loved ones. Companies like this should have to pay enough that it hurts AND all involved in the decision to not shut down the boiler should be fired. I wonder if any went to jail. Rules for thee, but not for me. So sad.

[@lauramills_af]

The same companies that STRESS safety and make us watch 5 hours of videos on safety measures🙄

[@JasonEngman]

I lived across the water from the power plant. I remember when this happened, very heartbreaking. Even with the filtering you would get ash on things around the plant and we would have daily brownouts. FL companies are not really known for their safety or caring about the environment. Check out some of the stuff on mosiac, waste water dumping problems, fertilizer runoff from sugarcane, etc.

[@sandraday6955]

Not sure how long ago this was but like 20-30 years ago companies were like well we got away with it 200 times midas well just keep doing it that way. Now some companies tell you -- if you think it is unsafe you can stop the whole production yourself no matter how low you are on the totem pole... whether they actually do I do not know but they tell you that.

[@zackv3957]

Whenever the mother figure is brought in, I always cry. The first person you think about is mom, madre, mama. He didn't call 911, even though he needed 911. He wanted his mother... to hear her voice. Even though a paramedic or an officer could save you, you still need her first. Every time I've been in distress, I reach to my mother with grasping arms. Say your "I love you"s every single damn day to that woman. For most of us, that is the only person on this Earth that will stand beside you in any dark moment, any mistake, or any misfortune.

[@SugaryPhoenixxx]

There truly is nothing comparable to a mother's love.

[@Willy2000ization]

If there is one person who should truly be your best friend, its mom.

[@NothingSuitsMeLikeASuit]

bro imagine how his mom feels knowing she didnt pick up the phone to comfort him and all she has left is that haunting voicemail

[@deborahhurtt9304]

So thankful for those men who do such dangerous work so we can live comfortably. God bless you all ❤

[@chrishick3127]

I worked in a boiler power plant. He did a good job at explaining the atmosphere. They would always try to avoid going offline with the boiler which always resulted us doing dangerous work. The pay was good but the constant strenuous & dangerous work wasn’t worth it. I never want to step foot in another power plant again! RIP to the poor operators that died.

[@denissesantillan5948]

Christ. As a mother I couldn't help the tears when I heard the first thing he thought about was calling his mother. This brings so much awareness to the fact that these companies are willfully negligent when it comes to employee safety too often. Warehouse jobs included. I hope I'm on earth long enough for my kids to live under my roof until they find a safe work environment.

[@xxyy1318]

Don't blaspheme.

[@dawncawthra3519]

Sad but true, the settlements were probably less than the cost of safely shutting the plant down.

[@TahtahmesDiary]

Yes, it’s profits over everything despite the workers being who keeps these places going. And the consequences for skipping over safety measures are not severe enough to dissuade them, so killing workers is a risk they are willing to take. Who cares about the peasants and their families after all. If we say anything, we are lazy, not hardworking like our grandparents, entitled, snowflakes, etc etc.

[@Madronaxyz]

@@xxyy1318 that's your response to someone expressing extreme distress?

[@jazdj04]

Yes! These companies...especially those that hire temp workers, min. wagers care less about employee safety. We must educate others about laws set in place to prevent such things.

[@meganamos8543]

As soon as you said they were going to do the repairs without turning off the boiler, I immediately started to tear up. Management absolutely deserves to be criminally charged for making such reckless decisions.

[@greenwave819]

Cutting off power to the city of Tampa would also be kinda dangerous and would likely result in humans dying/ being harmed, so they really didnt have an easy choice. Keeping power plants running is pretty vital, so lets not assume they did it for evil greed!

[@meganamos8543]

@@greenwave819 there were two other boilers still active.

[@greenwave819]

@@meganamos8543 all 4 were active. all 4 were needed. It's be amazing if power plants only ran at 50%. sadly, they run at 100% and often still fail to provide enough energy. The future will give more options as the masses turn to self-renewables like solar

[@electrictroy2010]

This wasn’t TECO’s first fatal accident. From 1997 to 2017, records showed that 10 workers died. They are fined $500,000 for violating OSHA and TECO internal procedures .

[@fukkitful]

@@greenwave819 The plant could have shut the boiler down. Power stations are interconnected for redundancy. Like you said, greed is why this happened. Shutting down would have cost the company $250k according to the Tampa Bay Times. Even the company's safety guidelines required the boiler to be shutdown if your opening the dogbox.

[@Beth-ie]

Ya... Maine is super weird - and super spooky. I LOVE MAINE!!!! Don't get me wrong, it's my favorite place on Earth, .... BUT... I think there's a reason Stephen King is a resident. Every back road during the day is lovely, but then you pass a house, a trailer, or a road, and you start to wonder.... what's going on with THAT? Forget nighttime. Stay close to home or be hanging with a bunch of other people. I swear, I've seen plenty of "oh my!" "holy crap!" and "OH NO WAY!" in Maine, having spent every year of my life there during the Summer/Fall. It's just got a weird vibe.... like, no matter where you are, or how well you know the area, something seems "off." FUN! ❤MAINE!

[@Wulfjager]

I thought Antonio would get trapped in the water tank somehow and they'd restart the process with him inside. Not even I could've seen the true outcome here. Absolutely heartbreaking

[@fullonsociopath]

When I heard the word "slag" you had my attention. I ran a co2 laser for years, and one of the by products of cutting metal is molten slag. You can barely pick up a "cooled" piece with welding gloves, and if it is still liquid and runny? No frickin way. Even with such a gift for storytelling, it is impossible to imagine the pain those men went through. Always question when an employer wants you to do maintenance on a machine that is still running. 9 times out of 10, it is a dangerous shortcut.

[@bobshenix]

How there was even a single survivor is truly amazing. I can only imagine he was lucky enough to be behind the "doghouse door" and just so happened to have had his water cannon aimed in the right direction to give himself a chance.

[@k3wlkid66]

I'm just going to round up to 10/10 times bro.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

@@k3wlkid66 Well, no. There are some specific applications where things literally can't be shut down. A very commonly seen example is power lines. Those guys work on live wires. I know there are other exceptions too, but it's very late.

[@edmondgreen7970]

@@ColonelSandersLite well...the lines CAN be powered down. Anything you turn on can be turned off. The question really is if it's worth doing so. The anwser is no if it's too expensive to do so or too inconvenant for a lot of people. The life of one or even a handful of humans means little.....unless it's yours......

[@monicahendricks8563]

Never has any of your stories hit me so hard emotionally as the last story did. Your ability to tell a story drew into the story to the point I could imagine what these young men went through.

[@georgina4874]

Well you didn't watch the one about the oil rig guy in the middle of the ocean getting pulled backwards through a mouse hole by an electric wrench.

[@caroldowning7671]

I thought it said altogether there were 6 guys working on this boiler. Even though 5 died there must have been 1 that suffered so seriously life changing injuries unless I heard. Wrong can't even imagine that kind of pain & how scared they must have been.

[@ProudCanadian1959]

Working in a Steel Mill I worked around slag and molten steel. My stomach felt sick at the last story. I guess that means you tell a mean story, sir.

[@AmandaHugandKiss411]

@@georgina4874 yeah I watched that one, horribly horrific to say the least.

[@J.C.73]

W😳W most incredibly painful sad ways to die anyone could imagine 😔

[@marianatraductoraargentina]

story 2: mary didnt want to sell her house so someone could build appt complex and magically she dissapears............

[@iscbrnt1973]

I would say yeah that makes sense, but it actually was a big problem because they couldn’t build what they wanted she wasn’t found dead so they couldn’t buy the estate. I live in the complex where this is and the complex is a big 6 because they couldn’t make it like an 8 shape due to the house. The house is gone now and it’s townhomes.

[@sylphiite]

I’ve been going through these for the past few days while working and as soon as the last story came up I remembered it instantly. I live less than an hour away and I go by and to Big Bend often when going to the beach and stopping by in the winter to see the manatees. This story was everywhere on tv for days after it happened and I remember being horrified. Hearing the actual story behind Antonio’s life is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to his family and Daisy and I hope they’re doing alright

[@YuukiMoo]

That last story is really heartbreaking.. imagine all the lives that could be saved if companies and work-places were willing to do repairs and handling dangerous situations in a correct way and NOT CARE for the loss of money 🥺

[@jessicadavenport2808]

Exactly! Safely protocols are there for a reason! Unfortunately, too many factories and plants do things the wrong way. Or at least the cheapest "easiest" way. It actually takes people dieing for them to be put in check. Even then, they only tow the line until people forget about the "accident".

[@LeCharles07]

Check out the USCSB KZbin channel; this is the common theme in virtually all of their videos.

[@breylincerulli2719]

I’m sure the settlements to the family’s cost a lot more than turning off the boiler……

[@steeljawX]

I'm not going to assume for ANYONE at all, but I feel like there's probably a big paradox for the people of Florida about what happened. Sure it's horrific that it did happen, but at least their power didn't go off. I know that sounds shallow and apathetic, but if you really get down to it those were the options for the general Florida customer of Tampa Power and even though they may be outraged with what happened, they would have been outraged if their power went out as well. It's funny (both funny 'weird' and funny ' a cynical ha ha') how the decision to be cheap for the course of decades really shows itself at the cost of human lives and yet the heads of such organizations and companies don't have any problem giving out money to not change the broken thing that was cheaped out on to begin with.

[@mathewsmith2990]

Sad part is, it probably still cost them less to pay the settlements than to shut it down for the duration of repairs and that's why they do it the unsafe way

[@KonwTheTrut]

The ‘people who weren’t supposed to go there’ series is the best series in the entirety of KZbin. Great job Mr.Ballen.

[@mikelmorrow4681]

Agreed

[@DankDaHerbalist]

Also agree with you!

[@incognitopotato5627]

My all time favorite series

[@udoitnow1]

Totally agree!

[@TheMissuz82]

Co-signed 🙌🏾

[@sierraostrander9756]

I couldn't imagine being all happy carrying his baby, so excited to see your family grow and become whole and getting a call the day you're supposed find out the gender of your child that you husband has died

[@rosaruiz4591]

The fact that he thought to call his mom in his last moments is gut wrenching! I hope that woman knows that her son loved her enough to look to her for salvation. I can’t imagine the pain of her hearing him go through that it’s just too awful to think about.

[@haydenmary4849]

my heart broke hearing about how the cat lady and thinking "what a horrible, horrible way to die" and then there was antonio...my condolences for all of them; may God bless their families

[@MayraGalland]

If she had known her death caused all of her beloved cats' deaths she would have been devastated too. Sounds like she dedicated her life to them and in the end they all suffered :'( So sad

[@bradcoats5522]

@@usr21882 I mean you expect someone to be alone for the rest of there life, never to love again?

[@samiam3799]

@@usr21882 what a truly horrible human being you are. Go troll somewhere else 😡

[@saiyajinali]

The last story was heartbreaking 💔. A young man starting his life with a family to only die in horrific accident due to corporate greed cutting corners on safety protocols..

[@Just_Pele]

That wasn't corporate, it was government owned and operated.

[@susanprendergast7384]

@@Just_Pele Run by the same greedheads, though. People with this kind of money blindness are everywhere, acting like it would come out of their own pockets. Soul sickness.

[@Just_Pele]

@@susanprendergast7384 It wasn't about profits, it was about not being able to deal with bureaucracy and no one being willing to sign off on the expenditure.

[@susanprendergast7384]

@@Just_Pele And this was designed like this why? To protect the bosses.

[@Just_Pele]

@@susanprendergast7384 To protect the politicians.

[@conquester4890]

It’s 2am I’m riddled with covid and I’m just watching all of your episodes amazing work man! Could watch you all day 😊

[@lisac1364]

The last story really got to me. A mother getting a call like that is heartbreaking.

[@jacquellinesanchez6172]

That last story was so horrifying and heart breaking. How many more stories are there of companies wanting to save money at the expense of human life?

[@grmpEqweer]

Lots.

[@Plum_bird]

It is a sad truth.

[@teijaflink2226]

Way too many around the world sadly but I'm happy that Mr Ballen is telling their stories and bringan avareness to these poor people and how evil and money hungry many companies are that they risk lives for money, okay sometimes it seems to be ignorance and laziness about the dangers.

[@workdesu]

too much actually that i'm inclined to say "most"

[@dianawatton7570]

Probably dozens if not hundreds.

[@BostonsF1nest]

I’ve heard/read stories before of homeowners passing away inside their house and eventually being eaten by their cats who are also trapped and unfed inside the house. That’s where I thought that story was going for a minute

[@bethjenkins8760]

I wondered about that too.

[@jaguarsky55]

I have a few indoor cats and this is one of my fears. I try to make sure that they are all well fed with extra food for overnight. And I have made sure that my brother knows to check on my every day; well we check on each other.

[@susanburke3722]

Me too

[@ZombieSazza]

I thought that’s where it was going too, honestly really sad all around. I don’t talk to my biological family (heavily abused as a child, left me with permanent nerve damage and PTSD) but have an adoptive family, my sister checks in with me regularly to make sure I’m okay if I’m not on discord for a few days. Thankfully live with my friend (he’s orphaned with no other living family, we have a sibling-like relationship) and we have a cat, Florence, so if something happened to one of us, there’s someone to care for Florence. Always make sure she’s well fed, should something ever happen. I’ve also neighbours across the hall, an elderly couple, really lovely couple, they talk to me regularly so should something ever unfortunately happen, they would notice.

[@jenny2tone242]

And the stories of dogs eating their dead owners. Puts me off having pets.

[@Mrsglamsidoflife]

The last one has me livid. Anthony’s poor mother hearing that. I don’t know if I’m more sad for those men’s families or angry AF!!!! at that company. Whatever the settlement it is not enough

[@blackcurrantpop]

I just love your research into these obscure yet newsworthy and tragic events. I am amazingly gripped by your suspenseful storytelling. You’ve got great timing and deliverance. I have a short attention span but your videos keep me focused until the very end. Thank you Mr Ballen, look forward to a lot more videos from you!!!

[@scottoshea9440]

Story #3, in addition to compensating the families of the victims (which I hope was millions of dollars for each), whoever decided they should do that with the equipment on should be in prison for life. The fact that they routinely endangered their employees lives in the past without any problems isn't an excuse, obviously. They knew damn well a gruesome horrible death could've occurred, and sent those men in anyway, just to save money. Completely inexcusable and unbelievable no one was held accountable.

[@peterhoulihan9766]

I've never seen the point in sending someone to prison for something like that. It'd make much more sense to me to impose wergild and have them work to support those mens' families. Won't bring back the dead obviously, but neither does taxing the innocent to make the guilty useless.

[@kainefolse3845]

@@peterhoulihan9766 nah, how about an eye for an eye? Next time any boiler in america needs fixing, have them do it with the boiler on :) lets see how many times they can complete the mission before something happens.

[@mattc.4697]

@@peterhoulihan9766 Because taking away a man's freedom is a horrible thing. And that is really besides the death penalty the only thing worthy of being called justice in this case. And that is what jail is ultimately about, justice.

[@TheDanielx3]

@@mattc.4697 "men are not hanged for stealing horses, but so that horses are not stolen.

[@mariachristi207]

Reading this comment actually makes me think... as expensive as it is to turn off the boiler, is it still more expensive than the amount they have to dish out for compensation of the deceased? If it is, then that's crazy... doesn't it mean that they deliberately sending their workers knowing they could die and thinking it would be cheaper...? That's inhumane... 0_0

[@RoseGolden0]

I feel sorry for Mary. That’s so sad. This is why I carry my cellphone everywhere because you never know when you’ll encounter a freak accident

[@Josefsson9013]

I feel bad for the cats :(

[@Tokegaroh]

This is why I TELL my mother to carry her cell phone everywhere. . . But she still doesn't. 😢😭

[@sourgreendolly7685]

@@Josefsson9013 It’s sad for everyone involved 🙁

[@RoseGolden0]

@Susan Wojcicki Bolshevik from Poland yup! That could be a possibility. Tragic

[@RoseGolden0]

@@Josefsson9013 I do too. Poor lil guys and gals starved to death

[@FLAVCO]

Well the police did another great job searching that cat lady’s house! This is one of the best channels on KZbin! Great work Mr Ballen 😊

[@campaigner1016]

WARNING! The following story could make you queasy. When I graduated High School, I worked for the railway repair shop at CP Rail in Calgary, Alberta. The hostlers would couple and uncouple the massive train engines when they came in or exited the shop. There were pits where the mechanics worked on these enormous train engines. The shop was very loud as they moved the engines into be serviced. A hostler went to couple two train engines together without sounding the warning to clear all mechanics from the pits - and horror ensued. As the hostler moved a second engine into the shop to couple two engines together, a mechanic was working on the coupler. The trains coupled together, catching the mechanic between the two train engines. You could see his torso and his legs - but the middle part of his body was crushed. If they uncoupled the two train engines, it would be an immediate bleed out death. They left the mechanic crushed between the two train engines, which was keeping him temporarily alive. His wife came down and stayed with him for three hours until the mechanic succumbed to his gruesome injuries. I’ll never unsee this unseeable catastrophe.