Wakefield, New Hampshire authorities reported Friday that a family of four from Massachusetts was discovered dead on Christmas Day at their lake cottage in New Hampshire after their propane heating system apparently failed and poisoned them with carbon monoxide gas overnight.
Lyla Goldstein, 54, was a Microsoft project manager, and her husband, 52, taught elementary school in Chestnut Hill. The disaster also claimed the lives of their daughters, Violet, 19, a college student, and Valerie, 22, who was also a teacher.
Over Christmas, the family, who were from Newton, Massachusetts, travelled to New Hampshire.
The reason of the apparent carbon monoxide leak from the propane gas heating system is still unknown, according to investigators. No carbon monoxide alarms were discovered in the house, according to New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey, who advised everyone to install and keep up with these devices.
According to Toomey, "both fire deaths and carbon monoxide deaths have been extremely tragic this year." "It hits home even more to lose a whole family of four during the height of the holiday season."
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can kill without warning, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires claims the lives of around 400 Americans annually, while 14,000 more are hospitalised.
After the family failed to show up for an extended family gathering, police in Wakefield arrived to the residence at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Toomey said that, other family members had attempted to call and message each of the four. According to him, those relatives then called the police, who carried out a welfare check.
Investigators believe the victims died throughout the night after discovering three of them in bedrooms and the fourth in a bathroom. The fatalities were thought to have been accidental, but when firefighters came, they discovered that the house had high amounts of carbon monoxide.
After conducting an autopsy on Matthew Goldstein, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New Hampshire concluded that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of his death. The remaining three victims are still awaiting autopsies.
Matthew Goldstein was an eighth-grade teacher at the Edith C. Baker School, which is located close to Boston and serves the Brookline communities of South Brookline and Chestnut Hill. For everyone who had the honour of knowing Mr. Goldstein, his commitment to motivating pupils and forming their brains will never be forgotten.
"During this extremely trying time, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, coworkers, and students," said Linus Guillory, superintendent of Brookline Public Schools, in a statement.
According to school president Crystal Williams, Violet Goldstein was a freshman at the Rhode Island School of Design.
In an email to the school community, Williams said, "I know that you join me in feeling utter heartbreak at the loss of such a promising young member of our community, along with her family, on what should have been a joyous occasion."
Toomey declared that authorities think the home's heating system failed, letting carbon monoxide escape beyond the typical venting system. He said that leaks can occur in wood, oil, or propane heating systems if there is inefficient combustion.
He advised people to make sure their systems are serviced and their chimneys are cleaned on a regular basis in addition to installing alarms. According to him, they should also make sure that no snow or ice is obstructing the vents during the winter.
