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Swarming bees kill elderly Texas couple
The species of bee involved in a fatal attack on an elderly couple has not been identified, a Texas paper reports.
April 20th, 2011
10:57 AM ET

Swarming bees kill elderly Texas couple

An elderly Texas couple were killed by bees this week after they apparently tried to remove the insects from a fireplace in a house on a remote ranch, the Valley Morning Star reported Wednesday.

William Steele, 90, died Monday in the house on a ranch outside Hebbronville, Texas, about 100 miles west of Corpus Christi. His wife, Myrtle Steele, 92, died Tuesday after she was flown to a Corpus Christi hospital, the couple's daughter-in-law, Judy Steele, told the newspaper.

Judy Steele told the paper that the bees swarmed when her father-in-law sprayed a hive the insects had built in the small home's fireplace.

Her husband, Richard Steele, was with his parents when the attack occurred, Judy Steele, told the Morning Star. He was also stung but was able to drive several miles to the nearest phone to call emergency services, she said. There is no cell phone service in the remote area, she said.

Jim Hogg County sheriff's deputies responded and told the paper they were able to get Myrtle Steele out of the house.

“We were getting stung in the process, but we were able to place a blanket over her and take her to an awaiting ambulance we did what we could,” the paper quoted Deputy Reyes Espinoza as saying. William Steele died inside, Espinoza said.

Judy Steele said her mother-in-law was stung more than 300 times.

Espinoza told the paper the species of bee involved in the attack had not been identified and the hive had yet to be removed from the house.

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Filed under: Animals • Bees • Texas
soundoff (378 Responses)
  1. Fonduri Europene Nerambursabile 2012 Albine

    Excellent site. Plenty of helpful info here. I?m sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thank you on your effort!

    April 7, 2012 at 1:25 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  2. Linda

    How could you make light of something like this? I hope nothing even close to this happens to you or your family.

    April 20, 2011 at 11:21 am | Report abuse | Reply
  3. CallingBS

    Sutler...you are just wrong on every level.

    RIP William and Myrtle.

    April 20, 2011 at 11:23 am | Report abuse | Reply
  4. John R

    Fail.

    April 20, 2011 at 11:41 am | Report abuse | Reply
  5. TacoSalad

    I dont know what all the buzz is about...

    April 20, 2011 at 11:50 am | Report abuse | Reply
  6. TacoSalad

    Dear guy using "your momma" jokes...Im ashamed for you.

    April 20, 2011 at 11:58 am | Report abuse | Reply
  7. buzz off

    hahahahahahaahahahah!

    April 20, 2011 at 12:20 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  8. Warren Miller

    I'm Warren Miller and I love to ski.

    April 20, 2011 at 12:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  9. roughriderci

    seriously dude??

    April 20, 2011 at 12:47 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  10. T

    What? All Texans are racist now? Stereo typing is just as bad if not worse than being racist

    April 20, 2011 at 12:57 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Tony

    Who said that they are racists? You were the one inserting that issue here. Do you think that killing bees is racist? What a simple minded dork!

    April 20, 2011 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. me

    Recess is over kid. Get off the blogs and go learn some compassion.

    April 20, 2011 at 1:02 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  13. Bookenz

    Bad bad.

    April 20, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  14. Quincey9

    Beehave

    April 20, 2011 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  15. Leela

    I don't know what you did, Fry, but once again, you screwed up! Now all the planets are gonna start cracking wise about our mamas.

    April 20, 2011 at 1:34 pm | Report abuse | Reply
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