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Debris from state rep's demolished Detroit home found at landfill in Van Buren Township

Posted at 1:54 PM, Oct 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-04 13:54:12-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Days after Michigan State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnodo's home was demolished in Detroit, she tells 7 Action News that debris from her home was found at the Woodland Meadows Landfill in Van Buren Township, more than 20 miles away from the home.

On Monday, Gay-Dagnodo said her home in the 14000 block of Minock on the city's west side was demolished with no record of how or why it happened, and no one coming forward with answers. Now, Detroit police are investigating it as a criminal matter.

The home was supposed to be part of a renovation project, but now, it's gone and only a big hole left behind.

A spokesperson for Waste Management tells 7 Action News that the landfill is cooperating with the local police department and has shared information regarding the disposal of the debris.

"How could this happen, with no one knowing," said State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnono.

The State Rep's home used to be on the 14,000 block of Minock on Detroit’s west side.

"A community group indicated to me via text the property isn’t there," she said. "I said, 'what do you mean?' They actually said it’s gone."

She purchased the home for$1,000 in 2018. She says she invested at least $42,000 dollars in renovations.

"We had a new roof, new windows, new doors, new storm doors, new siding – you name it," Gay-Dagnono said.

The plan was that once the home was completely renovated the State Rep wanted to do something good for the community with it.

"One of our goals was to give it to a family in need at Christmas time," she said. "We were also looking at possibilities of having somewhere for veterans to go, who are often left without anywhere to go."

Detroit Building Authority is also looking into what happened. They sent 7 Action News a statement that reads, in part: "The demolition of this property was not ordered, directed or funded by the City. At this time we are actively investigating to see if we can help determine who was responsible."

"No one knows how this happened and if this happened to your average citizen would they get the support," Gay-Dagnono said.

Detroit Spokesperson John Roach says the city did demolish a home next to the State Rep's house two months ago. That home was damaged by fire.

"What do we need to do differently to make sure departments are interfacing with each other so that something like this could never ever, ever happen without us knowing how it happened," Gay-Dagnono said.