Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Police: Suicide suspected in death of couple at apartment

Gas leak

Tiffany Gibson

Investigators responded Monday afternoon to the 1600 block of Marathon Drive, where a man and a woman were found dead after a neighbor reporting a gas leak at an apartment.

Updated Monday, March 1, 2010 | 7:41 p.m.

Death investigation

UPDATE: Middle school deals with teacher’s loss after 2 found dead

Metro Police said a man and a woman found dead in an apartment Monday afternoon in the western valley committed suicide, suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said firefighters responded at 3:24 p.m. to the apartment complex in the 1600 block of Marathon Drive, which is near Vegas Drive and Rainbow Boulevard.

No one answered the door when firefighters arrived, so firefighters entered the apartment through a window. Szymanski said firefighters found the man and woman dead in the apartment.

Metro homicide detectives took over the case after there was no sign of a fire or gas leak.

Police Lt. Chris Jones said officers received a call from the woman’s coworkers, who were concerned that she didn’t show up for work. He said one of the coworkers went to the apartment and knocked on the door, but no one answered.

The coworker noticed a gas smell at the apartment and called authorities, Jones said.

He said the investigation shows the man and woman had been burning charcoal in the residence with the intent to commit suicide.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the identities of the victims and an official cause of death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. Carbon monoxide levels build up in enclosed spaces.

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