With 6,251 residents, Villa Park is the county's smallest municipality and calls itself the "hidden jewel" on the city website. It's known for quiet neighborhoods and a low crime rate.
Mary Maloney's home is in a neighborhood where residences range in value from $990,000 to $1.8 million, according to Zillow.com.
The property was tagged by the city, after deputies first inspected, as uninhabitable because it posed a severe public health threat, said Ken Domer, Villa Park city manager.
He said the home had no heating or air conditioning.
"It had running water, but only two faucets in the house worked -- one in a sink in the master bedroom, and one in a bathtub," he said.
City officials were as shocked as neighbors to hear about the deplorable conditions.
Domer said many people had expressed concern for the elderly woman, who is now in a senior-care facility.
"There's been an outpouring of concern and offers of assistance," Domer said.
"It really is a tragic event for the elderly woman."
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david.reyes@latimes.com
