ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A deteriorating abandoned house that posed a danger to neighbors was demolished Monday after a partial wall collapse caused it to lean against an adjacent property.

The house at 5439 Ruskin Avenue had been the subject of 79 complaints since 2009 and received a structural condemnation in 2021. An emergency condemnation was issued Oct. 23 after a wall fell against neighbor Barbara Cox’s house.

“I heard this big boom and it was the house leaning on my house,” Cox said.

Cox said she was so afraid the structure might collapse into her home that she slept in her car.

“I was scared because I thought I might die in this house,” she said.

Charles Jones with Signature Demolition & Trucking received the contract Monday morning for the emergency demolition.

“It w

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