Arizona AG requests probe into elderly woman’s death from heat

PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General is asking utility regulators to open a public investigation into the death of an elderly woman whose power was shut off in her home.

12News first reported the death of 82-year-old Kate Korman of Sun City West back in April. Korman was found dead inside her home on May 19, 2024. A medical examiner’s report states that Korman’s utility, APS, turned off her power six days earlier, on May 13.  

APS told 12News that Korman stopped paying her bills after January 2024.

Commission Vice Chair Nick Myers said after the 12News story aired that he personally reviewed the case, and he said APS is not to blame. But the Medical Examiner ruled heat was a contributing factor.

The medical examiner’s report concludes the underlying “cause of death” was complications of chronic alcohol use and the “manner of death” was an accident caused by “exposure to elevated temperatures.” Heart disease is also listed as a contributing factor.

“Given the public importance of heat issues in Arizona… the Commission and APS have an excellent opportunity to set the record straight… and to inform much-needed updates to the Commission’s disconnection rules,” Mayes said in her letter.

Kate Korman’s son, Jonathan Korman, said he began speaking about his mother’s death because he learned she was one of many people “Arizona utilities killed by cutting them off in deadly heat.”

“Arizona Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers’ callous public comments showed literally deadly refusal of institutional responsibility,” Jonathan Korman said to 12News in a statement. “The Attorney General’s investigation gives me hope that uncovering the policies, processes, and decisions which killed my mother will compel change which saves lives.”

The public information officer for the Arizona Corporation Commission said to 12News:

“The Commission was just made aware of a letter purportedly from the Attorney General, however, the Commission has not received it so far.  At this time, we are not able to provide a comment.”

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