Woman found alive after getting stuck in freezer at Tulsa home

An Oklahoma woman was found alive in her deep freezer days after she was reported missing. Family members say she may have been disoriented and attempted to take shelter, KJRH's Breanne Palmerini reports.

Updated at 7:10 p.m. ET: A woman who vanished last weekend was found alive in a freezer in west Tulsa, Okla., after possibly climbing inside to take shelter from a storm, NBC station KJRH reported.

Theresa Christian, 59, disappeared Saturday and was discovered Wednesday with severe freezing of the legs, KJRH said. She was listed in serious condition, KJRH reported.

Her son told the station he is relieved she was found alive.


"She wasn't answering the phone or anything like that, so I came by here (Tuesday) night, about 10:30, knocked on the door, knocked on the door, and I couldn't get a response or anything," Christian's son, Jermal Stewart, told KJRH.

Tuesday, Christian's brother, William Andy Jr., entered the apartment near W. 23rd Ave. and Southwest Blvd. and did not find her.

Theresa Christian

"We went through the house calling out her name and stuff and couldn't get a response or anything," Andy told KJRH.

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Stewart went back to the apartment early Wednesday and had the apartment's maintenance crew unlock the door again.

"I heard her say, 'Help me, help me,'" Stewart said.

Stewart told KJRH he opened a closet door in the kitchen and saw his mother sitting in the freezer with the lid open, unable to move.

Family members say she may have been disoriented. “My mom takes a lot of medications, and it mixes with her system and it don't give her an appetite at all," Stewart told KJRH.

Police told reporters they suspect Christian crawled into the freezer to take shelter.

There was no severe weather in the area on Saturday, KJRH reported.

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"Possibly she thought maybe there was a tornado coming, but they're not really sure why or how she got there," Tulsa police Cpl. Daisy Vallely told KJRH.

No foul play is suspected, KJRH reported.

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What would you do for a Klondike bar?

  • 4 votes
Reply#34 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:31 PM EDT

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

    Reply#35 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:33 PM EDT

    Tard!

    • 3 votes
    Reply#36 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:35 PM EDT

    So she would be the expert to tell us if the light goes off when you close the door.

      Reply#37 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:35 PM EDT

      its obama's fault!!

        #37.1 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:36 PM EDT
        Reply

        thank God she's alive... but WHO DOES THAT!!! smh

        • 1 vote
        Reply#38 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:38 PM EDT

        Stay off drugs kids!

        • 1 vote
        Reply#39 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

        Proof positive that Darwin was wrong. ;'o(

          Reply#40 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:42 PM EDT

          A tornado that threatened to hit Tulsa? I'm a meteorologist here in Tulsa, and there hasn't been a tornado that came close to threatening us in a long, long time...at least a year or two. On the day in question, strong winds of up to 50 mph occurred just behind the passage of a strong cold front. There were no storms here, no rain, just wind. Not all that uncommon here behind these strong frontal passages. So let's hope she thinks a little more the next time strong winds blow in behind a simple cold front.

            Reply#41 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:43 PM EDT

            Last Friday, when those high winds hit, it was 105 degrees! What cold front are you talking about? The wind was pretty strong and the howling from it was pretty loud and concerning. The skies suddenly turned dark and stormy with heavy clouds. It was extremely eerie-looking and debris was flying through the skies higher than the buildings! Chunks of roofing were flying about, as was plenty of new construction debris, boxes and tree branches. The wind kicked up huge swirls of dust causing stretches of visibility problems. It rained a bit and later, the weather calmed down.

            I heard the freezer that lady was in has a top lid closure and that the lid was never fully closed or latched. The tornado sirens never sounded but SHE might have THOUGHT there was a tornado coming because of the sudden nature of the high winds, so I can see how that could frighten her.

              #41.1 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:50 PM EDT
              Reply

              Wow! If she COULD she would kick so many of you in the nuts right now. And she has a hard leg to deliver with.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#42 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:45 PM EDT

              Mrs. Paul's is holding on line one.

                Reply#43 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

                When i bite into a york peppermint pattie i get the cool sensation of being locked in a freezer...

                  Reply#44 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:49 PM EDT

                  LMFAO!

                    #44.1 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

                    U wrong for that dat!! But LMAO anyway!!!

                      #44.2 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:38 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Not that it isn't funny. The sheer spectacle of stupidity on this magnitude is mind-blowing. It more than deserves a spot on the news!! I'm happy it made the cut-off.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#45 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:50 PM EDT

                      After all is said and done I would hope her family has a psyciatriac evaluation done on her. They found her sitting in the freezer I didn't read anything about being locked in the freezer.

                        Reply#46 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

                        Maybe it was some sort of New Age back to the womb treatment because her mother was cold to her...

                        The biggest surprise is that she is not from Florida...

                        • 2 votes
                        Reply#47 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

                        I'm confused. He opened a closet door and saw his mom sitting in the freezer? Does that mean the freezer door was open?

                          Reply#48 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

                          Apparently. DUH!

                            #48.1 - Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:46 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            This person has some issues!!

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#49 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:52 PM EDT

                            Did Bush put her in there ?

                              Reply#50 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

                              I'm glad she's alive but I wonder why she didn't call anyone before she got in the freezer. Like her family or friends or why she didnt just run over to a neighbor's house. Too bad she felt like she had to go through this alone in such a freaky way.

                                Reply#51 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

                                Stupid enough to be Obama's cousin.

                                • 1 vote
                                Reply#52 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

                                If That Damn Tornado don't getcha The freezer Burn will ! F-ing Dum AZZ Lucky To Be Alive even if they have to amputate her legs !

                                  Reply#53 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

                                  WOW!! I can't even imagine what was going through her mind. I am glad she is alive.

                                    Reply#54 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:58 PM EDT

                                    Her son upset the natural order of things. This was natural selection.

                                      Reply#55 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:59 PM EDT

                                      stupid is as stupid does !!!!!

                                      • 2 votes
                                      Reply#56 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:00 PM EDT

                                      Does "stupid is as stupid does" not make any sense to any one besides me.? The first time I heard this term was in the movie Forrest Gump. "Momma always said "stupid is as stupid does". Makes me think his momma wasn't too bright. Just saying.....

                                        #56.1 - Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:52 PM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        Frosty the Dumb AZZ - Popsicle B..ch anyone got Snow Balls Enough To Warm Her up ?

                                        All I can Say is she must have been one hot broad to not be frozen solid !

                                          Reply#57 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:00 PM EDT

                                          All kidding aside, the freezer, walk in freezer or walk in refrigerator are all good places to hide in the event of tornadoes. Too bad they're so cold!

                                            Reply#58 - Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:05 PM EDT
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