FOREST, Miss. (AP) - Investigators believe carbon monoxide probably poisoned four people whose bodies were found Wednesday in a house in rural Mississippi.
A fifth victim, an unidentified 17-year-old girl, was taken to the hospital. Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee says she was disoriented and groggy when officials found her in the home. Her condition is not known.
“We are investigating the use of a motor generator that was used on the inside of the home. It was gas powered, and it’s a small residence.
“We believe the victims had succumbed to the carbon monoxide, but we haven’t got a preliminary report as far as the blood tests. So we’re awaiting a definite cause but that’s what we’re exploring now,” Lee said.
Lee said deputies went to the home after receiving a call from concerned family members. Lee says deputies found a generator running and a heavy odor of exhaust gases when they entered the house near Forest at about 1:30 a.m.
The victims were 22-year-old Carlos Jermaine Boyd, 39-year-old Moises Hernandes Conde, 19-year-old Travis Hunt and 18-year-old Tiffany Weaver.
Autopsies are being conducted at the state Crime Lab in Jackson.
Lee said Conde owned the home and was letting the other victims live there under normal circumstances. He said it appeared that the generator was being used to power two heaters, and that the house was tightly sealed.
“Even an hour after we opened the home and were going in and out of the crime scene, there was a strong smell of fumes,” Lee said.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.