Five people, including three children, have been found dead inside a home as a result of suspected carbon monoxide exposure.
At around 10.44am on Tuesday, April 15 emergency services received a call of five unresponsive individuals inside a residence on State Route 7 South in Clay Township in Ohio. When officers arrived they tragically found all five individuals unresponsive at the property.
The two adult victims have now been identified as Brian A. Doss, 36, and Lora Schuman, 35, but police have not disclosed the names or ages of the three children who died. Relatives of the victims told WCHS they suspect a generator was left running inside the home following storms that caused a power outage earlier in the week.
Donna McGuire, the sister of Schuman, told WOWK that the three children who perished were “happy-go-lucky” and that the oldest child was almost nine-years-old. “They were good and honest people,” she added about the victims. “They loved their kids, they loved their niece…This is a terrible disaster. We just lost our mum and now I’m gonna have to bury my sister.”
Shortly after 6pm yesterday Gallia County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on social media in relation to their investigation. In the statement Sheriff Matt Champlin said: “Upon the arrival of emergency personnel, it was confirmed that these individuals had perished inside of the residence. At this time, there is no suspicion of foul play involved in these deaths.
“The loss of any life is sad, however a tragedy such as this is truly heartbreaking,” he later stated. “Please join me in praying for the lives lost today and the family and friends who will suffer a monumental amount of grief based upon this situation.”
Several hours later, Champlin issued an update about the deaths. He said: “Based upon our investigation and the determination made by the Gallia County Coroner, it has been found that these individuals perished as a result of an exposure to carbon monoxide gas inside of their residence.
While authorities have reached certain conclusions, Champlin said, the investigation into the deaths continues. “As I requested earlier, please continue to lift this family and our community up in prayer. This situation is one that we all hope will never occur. Today’s tragic loss of life has shattered and changed the lives of many forever.”
Doss leaves behind his parents, his two brothers, one sister and his six children. Schuman is survived by her daughter and her sister, according to PEOPLE. Brian’s brother Phillip Doss said his family and the community are heartbroken. Phillip told WSAZ: “Never thought this would happen in my life, never. I mean I’m the oldest, I thought it would be me before anybody.”
He revealed he was at the property just the night before the tradegy, he said: “If I would’ve stayed with them last night, this could’ve been me. I mean, I tried to save them. I wish I could save them, but it was just too late.”
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