A Somerset woman who took shelter from Friday's storms in a closet died after becoming trapped when the door knob fell off.

Helen Placke, 74, was found in the closet at her home on Hamilton Avenue on Monday, said Pulaski County Coroner Richard New.

New said Placke, who lived alone, had tried to put the inside door knob back into the door, but when she did, the outside knob fell out.

"She could not open the door," he said. "Basically, she was stuck."

He said she is thought to have died sometime Sunday, after spending hours trapped in the closet without water or her heart medications.

Karla Ward: (859) 231-3314. Twitter: @HLpublicsafety