Mother’s Body Found in Dallas Sewer System, Family Sues City

After a woman's body was found at a water treatment facility in Dallas after she fell into a manhole, her family filed a lawsuit against the city.

The Death of Teresa Gonzales

66-year-old Teresa Gonzales was walking on the 1600 block of Record Crossing Road and Riverside Drive in the morning of October 22nd.

Construction was being done on a nearby sewage line. The manhole cover was removed from the sewer, and Gonzales fell inside.

Her body was lost for three days before she was found over nine miles away at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.

NBC DFW reports that witnesses saw a woman falling through a repair site into the sewer. One driver rushed to the scene after seeing what happened. She immediately called 911 and called the workers over that were nearby.

"I cannot believe you left the manhole cover off," the workers shouted at each other, according to NBC.

City of Dallas Lawsuit

The woman's daughter, Cynthia Gonzales, and her family have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the City of Dallas for allowing such unsafe conditions on publicly-accessed pathways.

Cynthia stated her mother did not drive and relied on public transportation to get around.

Ramez Shamieh, the family's lawyer, claims foul play was not suspected. "We believe one of the main reasons is unreasonably dangerous conditions at the site and that's why she fell in," Shamieh reported to NBC DFW.