Blind man falls to death in NYC elevator shaft

A blind man fell to his death in an elevator shaft inside a building with a history of elevator violations, and authorities on Friday were investigating whether malfunctioning doors played a role.

The body of 67-year-old Sheldon Scott was discovered Thursday night inside a 10-story apartment building in the Bronx where he lived with his wife.

Scott's wife reported him missing Thursday afternoon, about four hours after he left their third-floor apartment to go to the bank. Officers who searched the building later found him in the elevator shaft. Police said Scott was legally blind.

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The medical examiner's office on Friday ruled the death an accident.

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The building has been cited for 14 elevator violations since 1991, including three that were dismissed on Wednesday, according to a city Web site. A separate complaint logged Thursday from a caller reporting Scott's death includes a notation saying, "shaft open/unguarded."

City Department of Buildings spokesman Tony Sclafani said the accident was under investigation, but declined further comment. There was no response to a telephone message left with the building's owner.