I've read several articles and very curious about this... here are some of my thoughts.
Total speculation here: If it was a gas leak, those don't go away on their own. You SHOULD smell gas way before it reaches a concentration for asphyxiation, but it is possible for the oderant to be filtered out and not smell it. But unless the leak was stopped, gas would be present when they got there, and since the gas company was called to investigate I assume they checked for leaks. Carbon monoxide seems more likely, especially if it was very cold days before and warmer by the time the bodies were found. Like it was here. It's possible she collapsed spilling the pills, and he collapsed in the kitchen, unless it was very close to the same time you would think the second to collapse would realize something was wrong?
A blood test should determine CO poisoning, but I'm not sure if or how long it stays in the blood after death. I know there is a cumulative effects and fairly low concentrations can kill you over time, so I assume it stays in the blood for a while.
I found out what "mummification of hands and feet" means...
Basically, their hands and feet showed a different stage of decomposition. Like maybe the skin and tissues were dried out, rather than bloated. I've seen carcasses of dead animals that were dried out and shrunken, so I assume something along that line.
To me, it sounds like they had been dead for a while, and one article said the people usually in contact with them had not been in contact for a couple of weeks. So it could mean that they had been dead long enough for the extremities to start drying out. It also makes me wonder about freezing to death, although that still leaves the question of how far apart in time they died, and why the second to die didn't seek any help.
My next question: Several articles say the front door was open, but there were no signs of forced entry. You wouldn't have to force entry if the door is open, I guess that could be significant if you forced your way in, killed them, then left the door open when you left?
And I'm wondering what kind of pills they found near her. Were they something that could kill you or be used for suicide? They haven't said, that I've seen.
Still very curious. Autopsy report should tell a lot. It just sounds like they both collapsed, fairly close to the same time, and it could have been up to two weeks prior to discovery.
Aries
~Sign of the Rams
