Jericho, VT – Vermont State Police are investigating a home in the town of Jericho, where a husband and wife were found dead Wednesday morning.
“Underhill Jericho, Essex Fire Rescue were dispatched to the residences for a strong smell of gas in the residence,” Jericho Underhill Fire Chief Mathew Champlin said.
Crews say they found high levels of carbon monoxide when they got there. Two people, a husband and wife, were found dead inside.
“People were concerned because these people had not shown up for work,” Lt. Lance Burnham of Vermont State Police said. “They came and did a welfare check on the homeowners and they had found two people diseased in the residence.”
Vermont State Police are “leaning towards” carbon monoxide poisoning as the reason.
“The levels were high enough that we had safety concerns for the detectives that we didn’t want them to go in until now,” Burnham said.
Symptoms of CO poisoning are often described as “flu-like,” according to the CDC. Someone may develop a headache, dizziness, upset stomach or chest pain. Breathing in a lot of CO can be deadly.
Jericho Underhill Fire Chief Matthew Champlin says homeowners should make sure carbon monoxide detectors are up and running.
“We just changed the clocks and we ask that people to change their batteries in their detectors every time that we change the clocks,” Champlin said.
Vermont State Police are still investigating, butat this point they’re ruling out foul play.
Autopsies are being conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. The identities of the couple are being withheld until next of kins are notified.