30°
Michelle McFarren, 43, was discovered around 2:20 a.m. Thursday, March 6, inside a burning donation bin in the parking lot of a Glens Falls restaurant on Hudson Avenue, police said. Authorities determined her cause of death was fire-related but have not released further details.
McFarren, a mother of three and grandmother of three, had climbed into the bin seeking refuge from the rain, Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins surmised.
“A human being and member of our community lost her life in a fire in a clothing donation bin in which she may have sought refuge from a cold, rainy night,” Collins wrote on Facebook.
But McFarren’s daughter, Harley McFarren, is not convinced. She staged a protest outside the Glens Falls Police Department on Sunday, March 9, urging others to join her in demanding justice.
“NO ONE climbs in a blue donation box to get away from rain,” family friend Kaeleigh Ann wrote in a widely shared Facebook post written on Harley's behalf. “She got in that donation box to get away from who was trying to harm her. AND THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER IT UP AND LIE.”
Another friend, Trevor Beault, alleged that McFarren called 911 twice hours before her death but was ignored. “If they would have listened the two times she called and took her seriously, she would still be here,” he wrote on Facebook.
Relatives of Michelle McFarren protest outside the Glens Falls Police Department on Sunday, March 9.
Indeed, McFarren made two calls to 911 on the night before she died, Glens Falls Police told Albany station WNYT. Audio recordings of one call, obtained by the outlet, captured a seemingly annoyed dispatcher conveying to officers McFarren's claim there was "a group of men coming to cause bodily harm."
"She keeps reiterating that she's stuck inside of the blue box... and cannot come out," the dispatcher told police.
It was not immediately clear whether any officers responded to the scene before McFarren's death, or why her calls for help seemingly went unanswered. Daily Voice has reached out to both the Glens Falls Police Department and Mayor Collins for comment.
Meanwhile, McFarren was described in her obituary as “the life of the party” with a love for music, dancing, and shopping.
She leaves behind her mother, three daughters, and three grandchildren.
Her daughter Harley launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, which had raised over $4,000 as of Wednesday, March 12.
“We are reaching out to our community for support in honoring Michelle’s memory,” Harley wrote. “Any contribution, no matter how small, will help alleviate the financial strain and allow us to focus on grieving and remembering her fondly.”
Those wishing to donate can find the campaign here.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Saratoga Springs and receive free news updates.
