A Massachusetts family of four has tragically been found dead in a suspected carbon monoxide leak at their New Hampshire lake house on Christmas Day. The Goldstein family from Newtown, Massachusetts, were discovered just before 4:30 pm on Wednesday after they failed to attend a holiday gathering. Concerned relatives contacted the police, prompting the authorities to investigate.
Upon arrival, New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey confirmed high levels of carbon monoxide were detected inside the Wakefield property. Matthew Goldstein, 52, a school teacher, was identified as the family’s patriarch and was found to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The propane heating system at the vacation home appeared to have malfunctioned, leading to the tragedy as per the New York Post.
Lyla Goldstein, 54, a project manager at Microsoft, also lost her life in the incident, along with the couple’s two daughters: Valerie, 22, a Teach for America fifth-grade teacher in North Carolina, and Violet, 19, a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. Autopsies were carried out on Thursday, but the causes of death for the three women are still under investigation.
Investigators revealed that no carbon monoxide detectors were found in the house, and efforts to determine the cause of the suspected leak remain ongoing. The fire marshal has stated that the home’s gas heating system is being thoroughly inspected.
“Efforts to determine the cause of the suspected carbon monoxide leak remain active and ongoing, and investigators are continuing to inspect the home’s gas heating system,” the marshal said.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can cause rapid illness and even death if inhaled. According to the CDC, over 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires.
More than 100,000 people visit emergency rooms annually, with 14,000 being hospitalised.
The CDC advises homeowners to have chimneys checked and cleaned every year, as blocked chimneys can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup indoors. They also recommend replacing carbon monoxide detectors every five years or as instructed by the manufacturer.
