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Published Saturday July 23, 2005

Iowa woman dies using homemade device to uncover earthworms

BY MARION RHODES

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A woman in Little Sioux, Iowa, died Friday, apparently while trying to drive worms out of the ground with a homemade shocking device, the Harrison County Sheriff's Office said.

The woman, who was in her late 40s, was using an apparatus made out of a two-foot metal shaft that was wired to an extension cord and secured with tape, Sheriff Terry Baxter said.

"It's not uncommon in our area," Baxter said. People use metal rods to send electricity into moist soil, which causes night crawlers to come out of the earth, he said.

Baxter said the woman was apparently standing in water on the saturated ground and may have been electrocuted when she touched the metal rod.

An autopsy will be performed today to determine the cause of death.

"She had a large fish tank in her home, and this is how she supposedly fed her fish," Baxter said.

The woman's name was being withheld until relatives could be notified.

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Sender comments. In the USA TODAY dated July 26, 2005 the woman was identified as Joann Altheimer, Council Bluffs, IA. She is also identified in the below article.

The real tragedy is that a 5 year old in Harlan, IA found one of these devices in his yard, played with it and was also electrocuted about the same time. See the article belowvfrom the Omaha World-Herald dated July 26, 2005. Published Tuesday July 26, 2005

Iowa boy, 5, also died from shocking device

BY TOM MCCARTHY

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A day before a western Iowa woman was killed while trying to shock earthworms, a 5-year-old Harlan, Iowa, boy died in a similar accident.

Jacob Hill died Thursday after plugging in a homemade shocking device he found while playing outside his house, Harlan Police Sgt. Steve Davis said.

JoAnn Altheimer of Little Sioux died Friday, also using a homemade device, according to Harrison County Sheriff Terry Baxter. Altheimer, who was in her late 40s, regularly used the device to catch worms to feed her pet fish, Baxter said.

The devices typically use metal rods attached to extension cords to channel electricity into the ground, said Scott Schlotfeld, an employee at Jeff's Small Engine Repair and Bait Shop in Omaha.

Davis said that the boy's mother was alerted by a neighbor who saw him lying outside.

"(The device) was stored, basically, and the kid, being a kid, found it," Davis said. "Apparently he really liked to go fishing. So, he thought he was going to go fishing."

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Submitted on 07/26/2005

Submitted by: Bill Dieterichs
Reference: Omaha Herald

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Jack said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thank you, but we already have this story, and it's under consideration. In addition, the submission about the 5-year old is totally out of line. Nether Darwin or the Moderators are amused when young children are killed or injured!

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I have to agree with Jack on both counts -- but I am suggesting that we keep this for Darwin's eyes because it invalidates the other story, which may make its way through moderation and be accepted, if it has not already been accepted.

Kelly said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat

Tracy said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
May give extra info on the other story

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