Elderly Cedar Rapids woman's home burglarized -- two days after her death

Two days after an elderly Cedar Rapids woman was found dead, someone broke into her house, police said.

Officers responded around 10:25 a.m. Thursday to 1605 B Ave. NE when a possible burglary was reported. They found an open window, but no one inside.

Officer Tom Culp said whomever got inside ransacked the house. An investigation was under way to determine if anything was stolen.

The homeowner, 76-year-old Harriet E. Feldmann, was found dead inside the house Tuesday, police said. According to an obituary published in The Gazette, she died Monday from a brief illness.

"It's just wrong, and it's sick," said neighbor Ashley Kott, who helped take care of Feldmann. "She was an elderly lady who didn't do anything to anybody."

Kott, 25, said she called police around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday when she saw the lights on inside Feldmann's house. She said police responded and told her that the house was secure.

Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said an animal control officer had been at the house around 7:45 p.m. to retrieve Feldmann's cat and had secured the house. She was unsure if a light had been left on.

Kott called police again Thursday morning when she and her boyfriend noticed an open back door. Police arrived and found items thrown around inside.

"There's wrong, and then there's really wrong," Hamblin said. "This is one of those things where I hope God remembers this."

Feldmann had been more careful since she was robbed in July, Kott said. Feldmann told Kott that a man broke in, took her checkbook and some prescription pills.

Police investigated, but all the leads dried up, Hamblin said.

Anyone with information about either crime is asked to call police at (319) 286-5491 or Linn County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME.