Autopsy confirms carbon monoxide poisoning

A preliminary autopsy confirmed Monday that an elderly couple found deceased inside their West Valley City home died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The bodies of the 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife were discovered by their adult son, who stopped by their house near 4000 South and 4900 West about 6 p.m. Sunday, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan. The father was found on a chair slumped over a computer and the mother on the couch.

"Their positions suggested they were just going about their normal routines," he said.

At the family's request, police did not release the names of the victims Monday. McLachlan said the family was struggling over what happened.

The house was in an area where power had been knocked out by weekend storms. A generator was found in the garage with cables leading into the house hooked up to the computer and refrigerator. The furnace and water heater also were on. The generator was out of gas when it was discovered, McLachlan said.

An investigation showed the furnace and water heater were giving off high levels of carbon monoxide. There was also a fire burning in the fireplace and little ventilation in the house.

McLachlan couldn't point Monday to one specific thing in the house that killed the couple. He said the carbon monoxide poisoning may have come from a combination of the generator, furnace and water heater.