PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Early on the morning of January 27, rescue and police teams responded to a heartbreaking scene outside a convenience store at the corner of Turtle Creek Drive and 9th Avenue. There, a passing resident discovered 61-year-old James Rouly slumped and motionless in his wheelchair by a dumpster. Temperatures that night had dipped into the low 20s, and Rouly was dressed only in a thin hospital gown, with no shoes to protect him from the deep chill. Nearby lay a hospital blanket, a small meal and a drink frozen solid.
Police and medical officials later confirmed Rouly had no permanent home and appeared to have been released from a medical facility just a day earlier. He still wore a hospital wristband when he was found. Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Joseph Guillory II ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, though preliminary reports so far do not suggest foul play.
The discovery has shaken the local community. Daniel December, the resident who spotted Rouly, told reporters that at first he thought Rouly was asleep. Only after touching him did he realize something was deeply wrong. December said the scene was chilling in more ways than one, noting both the temperature and the vulnerability of a man left exposed in it.
Local advocates have reacted with sorrow and frustration. Patricia Henderson, director of the Port Cities Rescue Mission, spoke out about the tragedy, pointing to the broader struggle of people living without shelter. She reminded the public that emergency shelters were open during Winter Storm Fern, which had prompted a city Declaration of Disaster due to the dangerous freeze. Henderson pressed for greater awareness, saying shelters had space and could have offered Rouly warmth and safety.
Henderson’s voice carried both heartbreak and sharp criticism. She said that Rouly’s death raises hard questions about how a community cares for its most vulnerable, especially when help is available. Her mission organization provides beds and services, but she stressed that outreach and compassion must be shared by all.
As Port Arthur and the wider region continue to recover from the brutal winter storm that swept through much of Texas, Rouly’s death stands as a stark reminder of the human cost that can come with extreme weather. The storm system has already been linked to several deaths across the state, straining shelters and emergency services.
In a city still grappling with the aftereffects of cold, ice and community loss, residents and advocates alike have been left to grapple with a simple, painful question: how can we make sure no one is ever left out in the cold again? Due to the ongoing investigation, authorities say more details about Rouly’s death could come once the autopsy is complete.
