A Massachusetts family of four was found dead on Christmas Day in a suspected carbon monoxide leak, authorities said.
The Goldstein family of Newtown, Massachusetts, failed to show up for a holiday gathering and was found dead in their New Hampshire Lakefront home just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal. Relatives called police. did. Sean Twomey.
Large amounts of carbon monoxide were reported in Wakefield's home at the time of the discovery, and the head of the household, identified as 52-year-old schoolteacher Matthew Goldstein, was found to have died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Officials said the vacation home's propane heating system appeared to have malfunctioned. Associated Press.
Lila Goldstein, 54, a Microsoft project manager, also died in the accident, as did the couple's daughters, Valerie, 22, a fifth-grade teacher at Teach for America in North Carolina, and Violet, 19, a student at Rhode School. also died. Student at Island School of Design.
Autopsies were performed on all family members on Thursday, and the cause of death for the three women is currently under investigation. Investigators said no carbon monoxide detector was found inside the home.
“Efforts to determine the cause of the suspected carbon monoxide leak remain active and ongoing, and investigators continue to inspect the home's gas heating system,” the state fire marshal said in an update Friday. said.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. According to the CDC.
More than 400 Americans die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires, with more than 100,000 emergency room visits and more than 14,000 hospitalizations.
The CDC recommends that your home's chimney be inspected and cleaned annually because chimneys can become clogged with debris, which can cause carbon monoxide to build up indoors.
The agency also recommends replacing carbon monoxide detectors every five years or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
