Carbon monoxide poisoning likely caused death of rural B.C. family

Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected of causing the deaths of a rural family of four whose bodies were found in their home, the B.C. coroners service said Monday.

Harvey Volaine, Melissa Penner and boys Kaylex, 10 and seven-yearold Ay were found dead inside their home Friday by RCMP.

“The focus of the investigation is on a suspected occurrence of carbon monoxide gas in the residence,” a coroner’s release said.

Ashcroft RCMP had responded to a call for a “well-being check” at Saranagati Village, a 648-hectare Hare Krishna religious community located in the Venables Valley, about 30 kilometres south of Ashcroft.

The slain family “were happygo-lucky, very outgoing people,” said Denise Keen, who manages an apartment in Ashcroft where Penner’s mother lives. “Always happy, very energetic.”

Keen said she had met Penner and her children several times when they visited Penner’s mother. Penner worked outside the Venables Valley community, Keen said.

Penner’s mother, who didn’t want to be identified, said her daughter and Volaine had lived together for nine years.

She said police told her the source of the gas was a propane water heater.

Carbon monoxide is an odourless and tasteless gas produced during the burning of any fossil fuel. A carbon monoxide detector is a reliable method of early detection of carbon monoxide gas, the coroner service said. Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to carbon monoxide gas should seek urgent medical assistance.

About two dozen families live in Saranagati Village, which has a temple and a local school. The village was founded in the 1980s. Families live off the land and off the grid, with water from local creeks and electricity from solar panels, generators, or hydro systems, according to its website.