Five Found Dead in Cabin Victims of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

ELIMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Authorities investigating the carbon monoxide deaths of two adults and three children in a north-central Pennsylvania cabin said the mother of two of the children left the cabin early in the morning with another woman after a night of partying.

Image source: WNEP-TV

Lycoming County Coroner Chuck Kiessling said Sunday that police don't believe there is evidence to support criminal charges against the mother, whose daughters — aged 4 and 9 — are among the victims.

They were Nariah Hawkins and her younger sister Cadee Hawkins, reported WNEP-TV in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which listed Nariah's age as 8 instead of 9.

The others were 30-year-old Nathan L. Reece of Muncy, 23-year-old Jacqueline R. Stackhouse, of New Columbia, and her son, 3. He was identified as Austin Cousins, WNEP said.

Kiessling said all died in their sleep of carbon monoxide toxicity caused by an improperly ventilated propane heater.

The man who hosted the party slept outside in his truck and discovered the deaths Saturday.

Here's a news report that preceded the verification of carbon monoxide poisoning:

This story has been updated.