Just business as usual or murder?

this is a story from our local news today...
Investigators say an elderly woman likely died of exposure after the electricity in her northern New Mexico home was cut off. Her frozen body was found Thursday morning in her home..The medical investigator said someone close to the 69 ear old woman even tried to pay the utility bill for her, but the power company would not accept it, knowing the temps would drop well below freezing....

they say it got down to 12 below where the lady lived...if you didn't go to the link she had no car and had to use a walker to get around...she just wasn't able to run to the bank kind of thing... How can something like this still happen in this day and age??? Link to the story

murder...
monies was offered but they did not accept it.

i don't know how it works other places but about 9 years ago when myself and my ex split, i called to have the gas turned off cause it was in my name and i was afraid she would just let it go.
they refused to do it cause it was winter time and the cold, yadda yadda.

i don't get it..

cut to now, 2007 and if you don't pay your bill they'll shut you off

reply to post by DaddyBare

Sounds like murder to me. Our light company will forgive the needy during the winter just to keep them warm.
Why didn't the person who tried to pay help out by taking her in?