Man Found Dead In Sewage Vat

(Courtesy ABC 7)

A cesspool worker was found dead last night in a vat of sewage at a housing complex in Smithtown, Long Island. Police found the body of 43-year-old Richard Dennison, of Central Islip, around 6:45 p.m. last night, after his wife became worried because he hadn't returned home from work. Dennison, who was employed by Oakdale-based United Cesspool Services, was working at the Avalon Commons apartment complex emptying out accumulated sewage in the vat—when something went horribly wrong.

"It appears that he finished loading his truck," Suffolk County Det. Lt. Gerard V. Pelkofsky tells Newsday (paywall). "Sometime after that, he fell into the remaining sewage at the facility." Investigators believe Dennison's death to be accidental. No criminality is suspected, but they're looking into whether Dennison had a prior medical condition that may have caused him to fall into the vat. He was working alone at the time.

The sewage facility is located on the grounds of the apartment complex, and is emptied monthly by United Cesspool. Reached by phone, a company employee told us this morning, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, and we have no further comment at this time."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on November 2, 2011 8:59 AM

Comments [rss]

chee1rs

he could be doing comedy with that string of comments , like Ray Ellin or Chuck Nice at Dangerfield's

Joe Sturtz

what a shitty way to die. ha.

Chris Malone

What a terrible way to go...

Guest

That sucks but shit happens.

LtWorf

http://soundfxnow.com/sound-fx...

AGWAGW

I'm pretty sure this exact scenario is what Mel Brooks listed as the definition of comedy. Though it might work better in the abstract.

H.e. Pennypacker

you guys just don't get his edgy, 'in-your-face' comedy style.

Inkognita

So stupid, insensitive comments about an innocent person's death are passing for "comedy" now? It doesn't sound like he should give up his day job for one in comedy just yet.

schmeep

You're not really adding to 'the cause' here- Pennypacker was being sarcastic (and cleverly so).

Dirk

Too soon.

Guest

I don't think so. And to
everyone else who thinks their moral high ground has been tampered with by my first comment, think about this. This guy and everyone who knew him were privy to his job and its inherent dangers. So, I’m sure at least one of them had a sense of humor about it, especially Mr. Dennison. How can you work with sewage all day and NOT have a sense of humor about it? That being said, humor is one way to
deal with the horrible situations we all face on a day to day basis. What I said does not dishonor this man or his family. It sucks what happened, no doubt. But not having a sense of humor about it just makes one miserable.

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GentleGiant

It's a tasteless, insensitive joke, and by your defensive reaction you certainly know that it was inappropriate.

Guest

It's not tasteless or insensitive. My defensive reaction resulted from being attacked by buzzkills such as yourself and others. It's all a matter of opinion, and I choose not to be a stick in the mud like you.

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Inkognita

You seem to spend an exceptional amount of time on Gothamist. How did you ever find the time to post more than 5,000 comments here?

Maybe because your annoying presence isn't exactly in great demand by a lot of people?

Guest

So, you take the route of many when you've found yourself defeated; you go on the attack.
It took many years to post that much and I'm proud of it. Funny thing is that I am in demand. I don't mean that to be a boast either. I'm just as suprised as most people that many people find my brutal honesty refreshing (proven by my phone, text, and emails and my likes on here). Different strokes, as they say.

Inkognita

Well, I have to admit that your latest comment is pretty funny.

Guest

Glad I could put a smile on your face.

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Inkognita

Yeah, I'm sure this guy's family and friends are laughing themselves silly at the hilarious way he died. And your insensitive, stupid comments just add to their hilarity.

If you don't have any empathy, then at least know when it's appropriate to keep your dumb thoughts to yourself.

Guest

Cry me a river, punk. My comments weren't insensitive at all. And this guy's family or friends will make the same joke at some point in their lives. When my father died, it was devastating and yet, on the day of his funeral it rained and people joked that it was him pulling a prank. It made me laugh and forget about my pain. People like you want that pain to fill our lives and somehow give it meaning. I refuse to let people like you ruin things.

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