Police: Carbon monoxide caused deaths of 7 people in Moorhead, Minn.

The deaths of seven people in Moorhead, Minnesota over the weekend were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, Moorhead police confirmed on Wednesday.

In a news conference this afternoon, the police chief said test results came back confirming carbon monoxide toxicity in the victims which included four adults and three children

Initial scanner reports had pointed to carbon monoxide's role in the deaths, but Wednesday's announcement was the first official confirmation. Up until this point, police had only said there had been no signs of violence.

On the night the bodies were found, police said carbon monoxide hadn't been detected but it may have been pushed out by the furnace which was in fan mode.

What was the source of the carbon monoxide?

On Wednesday, police said there were two possible sources of the carbon monoxide: a furnace and a vehicle.

Officers say it appears the furnace was working properly and investigators were unable to replicate any trouble. The victims were also wearing light clothes, leading police to believe it was working properly.

The vehicle, a van, however, was having trouble and was found with a dead battery and half a tank of gas. Police are working to determine if there was a presence of hydrogen cyanine in the home, which would indicate exhaust was the cause. But, officers say it could take eight weeks to determine the exact cause.

A carbon monoxide detector was found inside the home, but it had been taken off the wall and its batteries had been removed.

Moorhead victims identified by police

The victims were discovered Saturday evening at their home along the 4400 block of 13 Street South in Moorhead. Monday, they were identified as:

  • Belin Hernandez, age 37
  • Marleny Pinto, age 34
  • Breylin Hernandez, age 16
  • Mike Hernandez, age 7
  • Marbely Hernandez, age 5
  • Eldor Hernandez Castillo, age 32
  • Mariela Guzman Pinto, age 19