An 80-year-old former attorney from Milwaukee, identified as John N. Siebold, tragically died from probable hypothermia after falling outside in freezing temperatures early Sunday morning. According to the medical examiner’s office, Siebold’s death was likely caused by the severe cold. Police say that he was walking outside alone at around 2 a.m. when he fell and became incapacitated, unable to move.
Siebold’s fall was captured on surveillance cameras from a neighbor’s home. Miriam Medina, the neighbor, reported that while her cameras didn’t capture the exact moment of the fall, they did show Siebold walking alone in sub-zero temperatures. Wind chills at the time were between minus 5 and minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Shortly after he walked out of view, the cameras captured him lying on the sidewalk, struggling to move. According to Medina, she heard knocking at her door later that morning and found out that police were investigating the incident. The officers asked for evidence and footage from her cameras. Medina described the heartbreaking scene, saying Siebold was unable to get up and lay there in the cold until he died. “He just laid there. He was struggling to get up, and he just laid there,” Medina said.
Disturbingly, no one called for help until nearly 7 a.m. After hours of lying outside, it remains unclear whether anyone saw Siebold during that time. Surveillance footage also shows a car driving by, but it’s uncertain whether the driver noticed him.
Neighbors, who were unaware of the situation while it was happening, expressed regret that they couldn’t have helped. Jose Hernandez, another neighbor, said, “I’m so sorry for the family. If I had seen him and he needed help, I would’ve woken up and helped him.” An autopsy was performed on Monday, but the results have not yet been released.
The community is left to mourn the loss of a man who died alone in harsh conditions, with many neighbors wishing they had been able to assist.
