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Family of 3 found dead (Car left running in Garage)
San Antonio Express-News ^ | 04/24/2009 | By Jeorge Zarazua and Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera

Posted on 04/24/2009 6:45:52 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd

San Antonio police suspect three people, who were found dead inside their home Thursday afternoon, might have been killed from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Detective Raymond Roberts said a Hummer parked inside the garage was allowed to run until its fuel tank became empty. The Hummer's keys were still in the ignition when investigators arrived.

Roberts said carbon monoxide poisoning could have been the cause of death because no signs of trauma were found on the bodies. It was immediately unknown if the door to the garage was left open or how the poisonous gas was able to permeate into the living quarters of the house.

Neighbors said a father, his son and his daughter-in-law would occupy the house every once in a while and believe the two-story brick house in the 14000 block of Turret Run was used as a second home from the family, who was from Torreon, Coahuila, in Mexico.

Police Chief William McManus said a hazardous materials crew was called to the house, located inside a gated subdivision near Loop 1604 and U.S. 281, to check for any poisonous gas or airborne contaminants that might have led to the family's deaths.

“I think the whole situation is unusual because no force appears to have been used,” McManus said.

Police were called to the two-story, brick house at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday after friends detected a foul smell emanating from a window, which they broke in an attempt to get inside. After detecting the odor, the friends asked a neighbor to call police and firefighters were then alerted.

A Haz-Mat crew was at the scene and preparing to go inside the house to remove the bodies.

McManus said two of the bodies were found partially clothed in an upstairs bathroom, while the third was in a bedroom, also located upstairs. Police later said the father appeared to have been sleeping in the bedroom, while the son was in the bathroom taking a shower. The son's wife was found lying on the floor of the same bathroom.

Authorities were not releasing the names of the deceased, but friends of the homeowners said the house belonged to the Medrano family. The friends said relatives in Mexico City hadn't heard from them since at least Sunday and had asked them to check on their wellbeing.

The friends, who declined to be identified, said they went by the house Wednesday, but no answered the door when they knocked. The friends said they left a note on the door and returned Thursday after being told of the dead bodies inside.

Neighbor Karen Eckols, 37, said she was surprised to learn of the deaths because she hasn't seen or heard anything suspicious in the neighborhood.

“I walk my dog down the street everyday and I never heard anything,” Eckols said.

Joe Galloway, vice president of the Regency Park Homeowners Association, said the home was purchased with cash about two years ago.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carbonmonoxide
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To: KSCITYBOY

I can see it if he just woke up and still feels drowsy. It takes some folks awhile to get awake even in the shower, I’m one of them. I’ll even admit to “losing” a half hour of time in the shower, I doubt I was asleep but I darn sure wasn’t awake. Being in the shower one especially wouldn’t notice the red flush on the skin. CO poisoning is often not readily noticeable to the victim, that’s why it kills lots of folks in their sleep. If one isn’t completely alert already it could be judged as an extended drowsyness. Then clank, you’re dead.

There is definitely the possibility of a well planned murder.


21 posted on 04/24/2009 10:08:41 AM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: jiggyboy

ok, you’re serious. I’m the one who was sarcastic when referring to the RWE. I just think that’s where the blame will lie. Another lie to give credence to the RWE warning document.


22 posted on 04/24/2009 10:10:20 AM PDT by uncitizen
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To: KSCITYBOY; American_Centurion

Seems wierd to me too, that along with the fact that the wife was found in the same bathroom. I thought CM poisoning effected people differently basied on weight, health and other factors which would vary the time of death.

If they were all laying in bed I would say CM poisioning makes sense but the individuals in the same bathroom is what makes me wonder about this. I could even see one person dead in the bathroom but as soon as the other person entered and saw the other laying dead in/on the shower/floor you would think they would call 911.


23 posted on 04/24/2009 10:22:42 AM PDT by A Texan (Oderint dum metuant)
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To: A Texan
A Texan said: "I could even see one person dead in the bathroom but as soon as the other person entered and saw the other laying dead in/on the shower/floor you would think they would call 911."

I believe that carbon monoxide kills by attaching to the hemoglobin in the blood, making it unable to transport oxygen.

If the son's wife heard him fall and found him unconscious, her heart rate probably soared. I wonder if the excited state could accelerate the amount of carbon monoxide she was absorbing and take her quickly to an unconscious state.

Not knowing why her husband was unconsious on the floor, she may have attempted to revive him. There are numerous instances of people rushing to rescue others who have been overcome by gas only to be overcome themselves. There are cases of multiple fatalaties resulting from an attempt to rescue one person. The middle of one's home would be a very unlikely place to suspect poisoning by gas.

I wonder if the home is of newer construction. Houses tend to be much more airtight these days to preserve energy. That increases the possibility of accumulating a poison gas.

24 posted on 04/24/2009 3:16:02 PM PDT by William Tell
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To: William Tell
Some very good points which I had not taken into consideration. This is an interesting case and your point about rushing to a victim and accelerating the effects of the still conscious person makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the input/theory.
25 posted on 04/27/2009 6:38:27 AM PDT by A Texan (Oderint dum metuant)
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