UPDATE: Death of Homeless Man Days Before Christmas - Mother Says She Needs Help with Memorial Service

Dec 26, 2013 at 10:00 am by bryan


UPDATE: Saying goodbye to a loved one just days before Christmas is one of the toughest things to overcome, this is especially true for a mother. Elaine Pijan told WGNS that her 49-year old son was found deceased in a wooded area behind a local hotel. Pijan said Murfreesboro Police came to her door to tell her about her son, Douglas Perry O'Donnell, on Friday of last week...

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Even though he was homeless, he worked at one of the O’Charley’s in Murfreesboro. At this point, it is not known if Douglas O'Donnell died from being outside in the elements or if he died from a drug overdose. 

Understanding More About This Incident:

Pijan told us that her son had a drug addiction. His drugs of choice were painkillers. He would have been 50 on January 22. The police report WGNS obtained confirmed that he was homeless at the time of his death.

What makes this death so much harder to swallow, is that this is the 3rd child that Mrs. Pijan has lost...

Pijan told us her son will be cremated. She will then place the urn containing his ashes next to the urns containing her other two other children who died at age 8 after being hit by a car and at age 37 while swimming in the Cumberland River. 

Pijan told us that they do need help in paying for the services for Douglas. A memorial service will be held at her home this Saturday at 1:00. She lives near the York VA Medical Center at 693 Morris Drive. Her phone number is 615-617-3602.

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