DETROIT – Thursday night, Local 4 brought viewers the heartbreaking story of Mel Peters, whose house was ransacked while he was in the hospital recovering from a stroke.
The thieves took everything, including the 55-year-old father's furnace and hot water heater.
But Friday night, local businesses stepped in to help Peters after seeing the report.
"My wife and I were watching the news and (Peters' story) came across and she said, 'You're putting in a water heater for him,' and I said, 'Yes I am.' I called the station, and here we are today," said John Herrick, of Big John's Plumbing.
Big John's Plumbing installed a new water heater free of charge and Competitive Heating and Cooling is handling the furnace, also for free.
"(I'm) very blessed these people would step right up and help me," Peter said. "If there's good people out there, this is."
Peters also feels strongly about the thieves.
"Scum," he said. "Lowlife scum, knowing I have a little girl here."
Peters has a 3-year-old daughter.
“You can feel how cold it is in here," Peters said Thursday. “I just keep putting more clothes on and using blankets.”
Peters suffered from his second stroke since May Sunday and was taken to Botsford Hospital after his neighbor found him lying on the ground in his backyard.
“My left side is still very weak. I have a hard time talking and walking,” he said.
About 24 hours later, Peters got a call from the same neighbor that his side door was kicked in.
“When I got home on Tuesday, my house was ransacked and water was all over the basement, they stole my furnace and water heater,” he said.
Peters also said pots and pans were stolen from his cupboards and food stolen from his freezer.
Peters' daughter was staying with her aunt and uncle in Battle Creek, since his house was so cold. He said now she can come home.
“I’ve seen people in this neighborhood scrapping from homes before,” Peters said. “I’ve seen them take sinks, aluminum siding but never from occupied homes.”
Detroit police recovered a knife and some bloody fingerprints from the scene. They are still working on the case.
Peters still needs to put in the locks, but he said finding peace of mind won't be easy after this incident.
If you’d like to help, contact Mel’s sister in law, Camella Eutsey, at this email: camellaeutsey@gmail.com.
Sign up for ClickOnDetroit Email Newsletters (click here) for more stories like this.