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'I was in the belly of Hell': ex-Allen Benedict Court resident describes living there

In 2014, Valomae Hamilton knew something was wrong when the smell of gas wouldn't go away.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — News 19 is learning more from former residents of the Allen Benedict Court apartments who feared for their safety while living on the property. One woman shared a letter she got from SCE&G with us and in it, she claims is solid proof that gas threatened her life.

"I was in the belly of Hell. I would describe Allen Benedict Court as the belly of Hell. That's where I was," Valomae Hamilton said.

RELATED: DEEP DIVE: Work orders highlight potentially life-threatening problems at Allen Benedict Court

Hamilton no longer lives at Allen Benedict Court. She moved out about a year ago.

All residents of the property have been evacuated after multiple gas leaks were found there on January 18. Residents will never be allowed to move back.

"I couldn't get the housing authority to come in and get rid of that odor, a gas odor," Hamilton said.

In 2014, she knew something was wrong when the smell of gas wouldn't go away.

"I kept thinking I could get help before I would die in there," Hamilton said. "I really thought I would die in there me and my two dogs. Nobody came so, I called SCE&G. He came out, one of their workers and he told me I could blow at anytime."

RELATED: Conditions 'severe and lethal' at Allen Benedict Court apartments, fire department says

Hamilton kept the inspection document, dated October 26, 2014.

Here's what SCE&G found, the employee wrote: "the leak was on the flex line going to the stove, turned off at the cut off valve to make it safe and also disconnected for safety."

RELATED: Incident report reveals possible source of CO in Allen Benedict Court deaths

 They also found a gas leak in her unit.

"It was like a ticking bomb," Hamilton said. "Tick, tick, tick, tick, until it couldn't go no further."

RELATED: Allen Benedict Court work orders show history of maintenance issues at deceased resident's apartment

After dealing with this same issue years ago, Hamilton tells us she's not surprised gas was to blame this time, too.

"You never get nothing done until it's too late, until something happened and something happened just like now," Hamilton said.     

RELATED: Residents won't be allowed to move back to Columbia apartments after life-threatening violations found

Hamilton moved out of Allen Benedict Court a year later. She still lives in a property managed by the housing authority.

The other residents who were displaced by the gas leaks have been moved to temporary housing, and have been given vouchers to find a replacement home. 

OUR PROBE:

In our investigation, we've uncovered previous maintenance problems in the units at Allen Benedict Court, that showed there were concerns about the units well before January 17th. We have a mountain of documents related to the case, as well as interviews with residents, and we continue to present new information each day.

You can see more into our probe below: 

RELATED: Four years of Allen Benedict Court inspection reports released

RELATED: DEEP DIVE: Work orders highlight potentially life-threatening problems at Allen Benedict Court

RELATED: Deep Dive: Work orders for deceased resident's apartment

RELATED: History of issues at Allen Benedict Court Apartments

RELATED: Allen Benedict Court records show possible lack in maintenance

RELATED: Incident report reveals possible source of CO in Allen Benedict Court deaths

RELATED: 'Maybe they care, maybe they don't' Columbia Housing resident speaks out about maintenance issues

RELATED: EMS radio recordings describe moments after man was found in his apartment at Allen Benedict Court

RELATED: Fire Department: At least 7 calls for 'suspicious odors' in 2018 at Allen Benedict Court

RELATED: Allen Benedict Court work orders show history of maintenance issues at deceased resident's apartment

RELATED: 'It takes a toll': Allen Benedict mother, daughter adapting to new normal

RELATED: 'I was in the belly of Hell': ex-Allen Benedict Court resident describes living there

RELATED: Previous work orders show gas leak issues at Allen Benedict Court

LAWSUITS: 

There have also been multiple lawsuits filed in connection to the case. You can see our coverage of those below.

RELATED: First lawsuit filed against Columbia Housing Authority director, commission chair

RELATED: Lawsuit alleges Allen Benedict Court Resident suffered from 'gas poisoning' well before evacuations

RELATED: Two new lawsuits filed over death, injury at Allen Benedict Court apartments

RELATED: 'Grossly negligent': 1st lawsuit filed over conditions at Allen Benedict Court Apartments

 

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