On Christmas Day in New Hampshire, a Massachusetts family of four lost their lives due to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning from their propane heating system.
The victims, Matthew Goldstein, 52, his wife Lyla Goldstein, 54, and their daughters Valerie, 22, and Violet, 19, were found dead in their lake house in Wakefield, New Hampshire.
According to investigators, the family’s propane heating system malfunctioned, causing a leak of carbon monoxide gas overnight.
New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey stated that no carbon monoxide alarms were found in the home.
“This has been a terribly tragic year for both fire deaths and carbon monoxide deaths,” Toomey said. “To lose a whole family of four right in the peak of the holiday season hits home even more.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes carbon monoxide as a colorless, odorless gas that can kill without warning.
According to the CDC, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, while another 14,000 are hospitalized.
The family failed to show up at an extended family gathering on Christmas Day. Relatives attempted to contact each of the four family members but received no response, prompting them to call the police.
Upon arrival, police found three of the victims in bedrooms and the fourth in a bathroom, with authorities suspecting that they died during the night.
When fire crews arrived, they detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home. Toomey stated that the deaths were believed to be accidental.
An autopsy performed on Matthew Goldstein confirmed that his cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies for the other three victims are pending.
