Two teens were discovered dead in an apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dorian Andres Gomez Poehlmann, 17, and Emily Rose Sabow, 14, were found dead inside a car parked in Poehlmann's home in St. Petesburg, FL, investigators said on Monday.
According to the boy's mother, her son left their home at 3pm, Sunday, to meet and pick up Sabow, his girlfriend. She never saw him again and thus opted to find a missing report by 11pm.
Eventually, concerned families were able to find the couple after one of them located the girl's phone and learned that it's pointing them to the boy's garage.
The police investigators shared that they found the two sitting inside a closed car and garage door. Although they still have to wait for the official results from the medical examiner's office in Pine County, their initial investigation suggested that both may have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a type of gas that can be produced when fuel is burned such as in vehicles. It can seep inside the vehicle, and because it is odorless and tasteless, it cannot be easily detected by unknown victims.
The fumes can build up and can potentially kill people in only a matter of minutes. Some of the common symptoms of poisoning may include headaches, chest pain, vomiting, and weakness. People can also find themselves feeling sleepy, giving them less chances of surviving poisoning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least 400 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning each year with over 4,000 of them hospitalized.
To prevent it, the CDC recommends regularly servicing fuel-burning appliances like heaters and providing proper ventilation for them. It can also be prevented by using a detector. However, the association doesn't implement its mandatory use. That may change because of the accident.
The East Bay High School where the couple attended has already expressed its sadness and condolences.