BATTLE CREEK, MI (WTVB) – Two young people from Branch County were found dead of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning Wednesday morning in a home on Southwest Capital Avenue in Battle Creek in what police are calling a terrible accident.
The Battle Creek Police and Fire Departments were notified of the two unresponsive people at about 8:15 a.m. When they arrived, they found a 19 year old Coldwater woman and a 20 year old Bronson man along with a five month old boy.
No names have been officially released by Battle Creek Police pending the notification of relatives.
The man and woman were pronounced deceased but the baby was still alive and transported to an area hospital for treatment. The baby was determined to belong to the man and woman.
Police say the house was vacant but was being remodeled by a friend of the homeowner. The deceased man was helping with the remodel and he, the woman and baby had been brought to the house on Tuesday but were supposed to have stayed elsewhere for the night.
Investigators report no one was supposed to be staying at the house, but the man, woman and baby had a temporary bed set up inside. There was also a gas generator and kerosene forced air heater inside the house that appeared to have been used overnight. A man who had arrived at the house to do some work on it discovered the deceased couple and the baby and immediately called 911.
Sensors showed carbon monoxide levels were well above safe levels. Levels on the first floor were 700ppm and were above 900ppm on the second floor. Fire officials said standard carbon monoxide detectors alert at 35ppm and death can occur at 400ppm.
No one else was found in the house and there were no signs of foul play.
The man who found the deceased couple had been working on the house and used the generator and heater during the day.
A city building inspector was called out and he did not find any violations.
