West End Fire Assists State Police

Station 43 assisted PA State Police with a CO detector on this call.

from poconorecord.com

Chestnuthill man found dead in home
March 21, 2007


A Chestnuthill Township man was found dead in his home Tuesday afternoon, the victim of what police call smoke and soot inhalation.

State police at Fern Ridge said William Ziegelmeier, 52, was found around 2:45 when his landlord checked his apartment at 2 Rinker Drive. The landlord said he had not heard from Ziegelmeier for six days and that his driveway wasn't plowed.

During a search of the home, Ziegelmeier was found on his basement floor with a build-up of soot around his nose and nostrils. There was also a large amount of soot found around the home, police said.

Police theorized that the oil burner in the home malfunctioned, contributing to the death of Ziegelmeier from smoke and soot inhalation.

The Monroe County Coroner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. State police are calling the death accidental.