5 dead in Ohio garage; carbon monoxide suspected

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The bodies of three children and two adults were found inside a garage Monday, and authorities said they believe the deaths — apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning — weren’t accidental.

Toledo police spokesman Joe Heffernan said firefighters broke into the garage of the Toledo home and discovered the bodies Monday afternoon. Heffernan said officers were called to check on those inside the house after getting a call from a concerned family member.

Investigators think all five might have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Police released no further details.

The victims are a 56-year-old woman, her grandchildren, ages 10, 7 and 5, and a 32-year-old man, who is an uncle of one of the children, Lucas County coroner, Dr. James Patrick, told The (Toledo) Blade.

A flatbed car-hauler was seen backing in toward the garage hours after the bodies were found.

The residential neighborhood is close to the Ohio-Michigan state line.

Neighbors said an older couple and their adult son lived at the house and three children were there often but did not live with them.

Doug Hall, a neighbor who lives across the street, said he saw the son and kids raking leaves last week. He said the only unusual thing he’s noticed was a police car at the house last Thursday. He said he didn’t know why it was there.

Another neighbor said he saw the kids helping with the yard work and playing in the leaves just a few days ago.

“One minute they’re doing the leaves, and then the next there are cop cars all over,” Eric Pieper said.