Family of 4 found dead in Arizona cabin on New Year’s Day
Jan 2, 2018, 7:15 AM | Updated: 5:18 pm
(Pixabay.com Photo)
(Pixabay.com Photo)
PHOENIX — A Phoenix-area family of four was found dead in a northern Arizona cabin on New Year’s Day, victims of a possible gas leak, authorities said.
Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies said the bodies of the Capitano family — El Mirage residents 32-year-old Anthony and Megan and their youngsters — were found after a family friend called Monday afternoon to report they hadn’t heard from them in days.
The children, a boy and a girl, were 4 and 3 years old, respectively.
The caller said other family members had been trying to get a hold of the Capitanos, who were staying in Parks, with no success, and asked the department to send an officer to check on the four.
A deputy drove to the cabin, saw a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle the friend said the West Valley couple drove.
The Ponderosa Fire Department was then called. Those first responders made the discovery.
“We’re not sure if it is gas or carbon monoxide just yet,” sheriff’s office spokesman Jon Paxton said.
“There’s no sign of foul play. We haven’t found anything else that would lead us to believe it was anything else beyond carbon monoxide or gas.”
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that a service provider “found a significant failure in the heating system, which would be consistent with carbon monoxide overcoming the residence.”
The medical examiner will make the final assessment.
“It’s a tragedy,” Paxton said.
KTAR News’ Jim Cross contributed to this report.
