Monica Brown, a 77-year-old widow who lived alone in her one-bedroom apartment in Over-the-Rhine, rarely left her home. Friends say she feared the drug dealers who hang out on a nearby corner.

        Because of that fear, a friend and neighbor said Thursday, she didn't have an air conditioner, which would have required her to remove security screening from a window in her first-floor apartment.

        On Thursday afternoon, the woman neighbors knew as “Miss Mamie” was found dead in her apartment where a police officer said the temperature was well above 100 degrees.

        Mrs. Brown was found just after 3 p.m. in her apartment in the 1500 block of Republic Street. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office will determine if the woman's death was caused by heat, but police officers on the scene said the apartment was so hot they suggested the coroner's office take temperature readings.

        “It must've been 120 degrees in there,” said Sgt. Roger Robbins.

        Willie Lee, 72, who lived in the same apartment building, said he knew Mrs. Brown for 17 years. She and her late husband, who died three years ago, had moved into the building about 30 years ago, he said.

        “She didn't want an air conditioner because it would stick out the window,” Mr. Lee said Thursday evening as he sat on the steps in front of the building. “She had an electric fan, but all the windows were closed.”

        “She was scared the guys would come in on her,” he said. “I've seen her outside three times in the last 17 years. She was too scared of the dope dealers out here.”

        Mrs. Brown also kept several knives near the door, which she planned to use to fight off any intruders, Mr. Lee said. To his knowledge, there were never any break-in attempts.

        Ophelia Motley, 25, of Over-the-Rhine, used to help Mrs. Brown with household chores.

        “She never came outside,” Ms. Motley said. “'She always thought people might break in on her.

        “That's a shame,” she said of her friend's death. “She was as sweet a lady as you ever want to see.”

        While inside her apartment, Mrs. Brown would entertain herself by listening to radio and watching television.

        “She always wore a hat,” even inside the apartment, Ms. Motley recalled.

        Mr. Lee, who last talked to Mrs. Brown on the telephone three days ago, said she was discovered lying on the living room floor by an employee of the landlord who comes by the first of every month to collect the rent.

        The employee, who has a key, couldn't get inside the apartment because the chain was latched inside, but he was able to see Mrs. Brown lying on the floor and called police, Mr. Lee said.

        Sgt. Robbins said he looked around the apartment and found no medication or any indication that the woman had health problems.

        Mrs. Brown's death was the first apparent heat-related death since August 2001, when two people died during the first week of the month as temperatures soared above 90 degrees. One of the victims was working in his yard, the other was found dead in her home.

        According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, 31 people died of heat-related illness from 1986 to 2000 in Greater Cincinnati.

        Thursday's high temperature was 95 degrees, with the same forecast for today and Saturday. According to AccuWeather, the mercury could hit 100 on Sunday.

        Heat and smog alerts remain in effect for today, with residents encouraged to drink lots of liquids and stay indoors if possible.

        Steve Eder contributed.

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