A tragic incident occurred in Oklahoma as authorities attempted to serve an eviction notice to an 82-year-old man. Anthony Goulding, who had fallen behind on his mortgage payments, set himself on fire as two deputies approached his home.
On April 1, two sheriff‘s deputies arrived at the Gouldings‘ home to forcibly remove them at the behest of Mary‘s son, Timothy Denny. The couple, who had been married for 25 years, were being evicted due to Denny‘s efforts to get his mother into skilled nursing care. Unfortunately, the situation quickly escalated when Anthony Goulding, clearly distressed and feeling like he had nothing left to lose, set the house on fire, ultimately causing the death of himself and the family dog.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office has released body-camera footage of the incident, showing the horrific moment when Goulding poured a flammable fluid and lit himself on fire. The two deputies were able to rescue Goulding’s wife, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, from the burning home. However, one of the officers suffered a minor burn during the rescue.
According to Sheriff Tommie Johnson III, Goulding seemed to have thrown a gas can at one of the deputies before setting himself on fire. The video shows the deputies attempting to reason with Goulding’s wife, who was sitting on the couch before he poured the fluid and lit the fire. It is heart-wrenching to see the deputies’ desperate attempt to rescue the couple as the flames quickly engulfed the entire home.
This heartbreaking incident shines a light on the often complex and difficult decisions that families face when it comes to caring for aging loved ones. Mary Goulding had signed the deed of the home over to her son in 2013 and was paying $700 in rent each month. Denny‘s reasoning for evicting his mother was in an attempt to get her the proper care she needed, as she was facing alcohol abuse and a smoking addiction. However, one can only imagine the turmoil and conflict that must have arisen within the family leading up to this tragedy.
The fact that there were no attempts at mediation or compromise in this case is a sad reality. Legal Aid Services Oklahoma and other organizations had pleaded with Denny‘s lawyer to allow for more time to find a new living arrangement for the Gouldings but to no avail. The damage to the house that Denny claimed as justification for the eviction is also disputed and not visible in the bodycam video. It is evident that there were underlying family issues at play here, and the eviction process was used as a last-ditch effort to force the situation.
The spokesperson for the sheriff’s office has confirmed that the woman is safe and currently has a place to stay, although their beloved dog was killed in the fire. Despite the loss of their home and pet, we are relieved that the woman was not harmed during the incident.
It is a reminder to all of us to show compassion and empathy towards those who are struggling during these challenging times. It is essential to remember the human side of the crisis and extend a helping hand to those in need.
We also want to acknowledge the bravery and dedication of the law enforcement officers involved in this harrowing incident. They put their lives on the line daily to serve and protect their community, and this tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers they face in their line of work.
GRAPHIC VIDEO WARNING: OK County Sheriff release body cam footage, as a deputy trying to carry out an eviction is confronted by an elderly resident who set his bedroom & himself on fire. That deputy was burned trying to pull the man (who did not survive ) to safety. (thread 1/2) pic.twitter.com/H6gN1Nb8Xq
— Tara Blume (@tcblume) April 2, 2024
Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Anthony Goulding and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. We hope this incident sparks a conversation about the need for compassion and support for those struggling during these trying times.
