# Oh Mom, Poor Mom, You're Hanging in the Basement and I'm Feeling so Sad **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663 "2003-12-30T01:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/21 "2003-12-30T15:44:54Z")
and this article– [http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1072767278123240.xml](http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1072767278123240.xml) discusses a family history of sexual abuse, violence, & the fact that there is a washer & dryer in the basement, & people have been in & out the whole time. And the basement **was** searched. Hmmmmm…:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/22 "2003-12-30T15:46:03Z")
“WOODBRIDGE, N.J. - Sophia Taggert’s family reported the 56-year-old Woodbridge woman missing in March, but did not look for her in the house’s cluttered basement.” —They’re a lackadaisical clan, those Taggerts. “Did you look in the basement?” “Nah. Too tired. I’ll check later.” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/23 "2003-12-30T15:49:42Z")
Good lord, that’s not a family, it’s an _Investigative Reports with Bill Kurtis_ waiting to happen! ---
**Author:** ![geewhiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@geewhiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geewhiz)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/24 "2003-12-30T15:55:19Z")
This is too sad and depressing for words. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/25 "2003-12-30T15:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > > And the basement **was** searched. > > Hmmmmm…:dubious: \*\* It probably **was** searched, like this: Yells downstairs: “Hey, Ma! You down there?.. Ma?.. Hello?..” To other ‘searcher’: “Nope, she’s definitely not in the basement.” ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/26 "2003-12-30T16:15:20Z")
We now know where Iraq could have hidden their WMD (if they had existed). “I know, we’ll put our stores of antrax and our nuclear war heads in the Taggert’s basement in Woodbridge, New Jersey. They’ll NEVER find them there.” ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/27 "2003-12-30T17:29:32Z")
We have a large storage room in our basement, and I never go in there unless I am specifically looking for something I know is stored - it can be many months between times that I visit it. What was the nosy relative doing down there, if the family rarely went down? If the father knew the wife was hanging down there, wouldn’t he have done anything to keep the relative from nosing around? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/28 "2003-12-30T17:49:59Z")
> [@](#): > > **Kalhoun** : I would imagine the decomposition factor would be minimal. But the whole story stinks of corruption to me. Thanks, I aspirated my (cold) coffee. (Really.) And **Eve**? Definite nomination for the category of _Best Literary/Theatrical Reference in a Thread Title, Ever_. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/29 "2003-12-30T22:51:49Z")
There was a local case here either early this year or late last year wherein a woman living in a trailer disappeared. Someone finally notified the cops, but they found nothing. Someone finally got inside the trailer and noticed a smell and noted some sort of fluid leaking out from under a cabinet. The cops showed up again in time to catch the son packing to leave. Upon searching, they found the woman’s body inside the cabinets, wrapped up in sheets, etc. The guy had killed her, wrapped her, stuffed her inside the island, and then tried to caulk up all the cracks to keep the smell from getting out. Damn those bodily fluids! ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/30 "2003-12-31T13:02:23Z")
Again, we need that barfy smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/31 "2003-12-31T13:31:31Z")
Damn. And I just took my cold shower, too. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/32 "2003-12-31T17:16:02Z")
When I was very small, my brother convinced me to stay out of the basement, because there were **ghosts** down there. A few days later, Mom told me to go downstairs to get something for her. I refused, shrinking back. “No, Mommy! There’s **goats** down there!” That’s the way my family told it to me. I don’t directly remember any of it. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/33 "2003-12-31T20:01:33Z")
That’s it. I’m not going down into the basement again. :eek: **Chefguy**? That is the most disgusting thing I’ve heard in a while and I won’t be able to eat for a week. Thanks 😛 Oh and Great thread title! I did a monologue from _Oh Dad…_ years and years ago (at a competition) that was fairly well received… fond memories… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/34 "2003-12-31T22:50:44Z")
. . . Now I hear on the news that the woman’s ex is suing, saying, “_riiiiight_, they didn’t notice her for ten months . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/35 "2004-01-02T00:58:25Z")
(1010 WINS) (NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J) The discovery of a missing woman’s skeletal remains in her Woodbridge home last week has spurred a review of the case by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which will try to determine why the body was not found when police initially searched the home . . . Taggart, 55, was last seen March 10 as she walked to a nearby store. Township police searched her home that day and also brought in a search dog, but they never took the animal inside the one-story home. Woodbridge Police Chief William Trenery said he has spoken with the officer who went into the 20-by-30 foot basement “and he says he never saw anybody down there.” The body was found hanging from a pipe attached to a water heater, and Trenery said it was “conceivable” that it was missed because the basement was nearly filled with numerous items, including boxes and an old motorcycle. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/36 "2004-01-02T03:30:01Z")
Cop yells downstairs: “Hey lady! You down there?.. Lady?.. Hello?..” ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/37 "2004-01-02T05:17:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*“WOODBRIDGE, N.J. - Sophia Taggert’s family reported the 56-year-old Woodbridge woman missing in March, but did not look for her in the house’s cluttered basement.” > > —They’re a lackadaisical clan, those Taggerts. “Did you look in the basement?” “Nah. Too tired. I’ll check later.” \*\* :snicker snicker: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/38 "2004-01-02T06:36:34Z")
At least we can be reasonable certain they don’t have rats in the basement. baby rat :looky Ma snacks! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/39 "2004-01-02T06:54:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Lamb could not answer why no one in the home could smell a decomposing body during the spring and summer, but the medical examiner said, “The absence of stench was not remarkable considering the condition of the premises and certain physiological factors found at the site and during the autopsy.” (From the NJ Star-Ledger) Ya gotta wonder what sorta shape the house is in that the didn’t notice the smell. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663/40 "2004-01-02T15:16:06Z")
“The absence of stench was not remarkable considering the condition of the premises and certain physiological factors found at the site and during the autopsy.” —Probably meant all the _other_ corpses in the basement. “Oh, _that_ hanging body? Well, no wonder we didn’t notice Mom, what with the crawlspace fulla Girl Scouts, Granny’s head in the washer, and all those Jehovah’s Witnesses stacked up like cordwood in the corner!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-mom-poor-mom-youre-hanging-in-the-basement-and-im-feeling-so-sad/221663.md?page=3)