Four Found Dead on Christmas Day in New Hampshire Home Due to Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
WAKEFIELD, N.H.—On Christmas Day, four individuals tragically lost their lives in a home in New Hampshire, with initial reports indicating carbon monoxide poisoning as the likely cause, according to local authorities.
New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey stated that police were dispatched to the residence in Wakefield at approximately 4:20 p.m. for a welfare check. Upon their arrival, they discovered the deceased individuals.
“While the investigation remains active and ongoing, investigators currently believe that the victims succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning,” Toomey and other officials reported in a statement.
This incident underscores the critical need for functional carbon monoxide detectors in every household, Toomey emphasized.
In an interview with television station WMUR, Toomey revealed that the deceased included two older adults and two younger adults. Family members had contacted law enforcement when the individuals failed to arrive at a planned Christmas gathering.
Authorities suspect the fatalities were accidental, focusing their investigation on a gas heating system after it was noted that the home lacked carbon monoxide detectors, as reported by WMUR.
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The names of the deceased have not yet been disclosed as authorities await notification of their next of kin. Autopsies to determine the exact causes of death were scheduled for Thursday.
On Christmas Day, temperatures in Wakefield dropped to a low of approximately 13 degrees Fahrenheit (-11 degrees Celsius).
