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ST. GEORGE — Authorities are investigating the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning after a family of four was found dead on New Year’s Day in a northern Arizona cabin.
Officials were responding to a welfare check Monday at the cabin located in Parks — a town located between Williams and Flagstaff — when they made the discovery, according to a statement issued by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have identified the victims as 32-year-old Anthony Capitano, 32-year-old Meghan Capitano, 4-year-old Lincoln Capitano and 3-year-old Kingsley Capitano, of El Mirage, Arizona.
The Sheriff’s Office had received a call at approximately 12:26 p.m. Monday from a friend of the Capitano family.
“The caller said family members had been trying to contact them for a few days with no success and had become concerned,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the statement.
A Coconino County Sheriff’s deputy from the Williams Substation arrived at the cabin at approximately 1:17 p.m. and located the family’s vehicle in the driveway, officials said.
Upon approaching the cabin, the deputy reported smelling a “strong odor of gas” coming from the cabin and requested additional units, including the Ponderosa Fire Department, to respond to the scene.
Read the entire story at St. George News.
- Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home. Place your detector where it will wake you up if it alarms, such as outside your bedroom. Consider buying a detector with a digital readout.
- Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
- Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors.
- If you smell an odor from your gas refrigerator have an expert service it as the odor can mean it could be leaking CO.
- Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly.
- Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year.
- Never patch a vent pipe with tape, gum or something else.
- Never use a gas range or oven for heating.
- Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal – red, gray, black or white – gives off CO.
- Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors.
- Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent.
