Sheriff’s investigation reveals evidence of carbon monoxide in death of four

PARKS – Yesterday investigators from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office employed the assistance of a professional, licensed heating/cooling service provider to investigate the heating system of the cabin in which four people were found deceased yesterday.

The contractor found a significant failure in the heating system which would be consistent with carbon monoxide overcoming the residence. The heating unit was the only gas appliance in the home. This provides additional evidence regarding a possible carbon monoxide related event.

The manner and cause of death is still to be determined by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to recommend that people install not only smoke detectors, but also carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These need to be tested and inspected at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. The heating/cooling industry generally recommends that heaters are inspected yearly.

If you have questions regarding your heating/cooling system,
you are urged to contact a certified heating/cooling expert to check your system. If you use wood stoves, be sure these also are annually serviced and cleaned.

Paper application due Jan. 30 for 2018 elk, pronghorn draw

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2018 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information online at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

The department now is accepting paper applications for hunt permit-tags. Paper applications can be dropped off at any department office statewide or mailed to:

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attn.: Drawing Section
P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052

The printed “2018 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information” booklets are expected to be available the first week of January at department offices and license dealers (PDF) statewide.

In an effort to provide better customer service by announcing draw results sooner, all paper applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Postmarks do not count.

The online application service for the random draw is expected to be available in early to mid-January. Online applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

The department encourages all applicants to sign up for a free AZGFD portal account and apply online. The portal allows customers to create a secure account where they can manage and view their draw applications, license history, bonus points, gain access to their “I Support Wildlife” membership and more in the “My AZGFD Dashboard” section. A portal account also provides convenient access to the online license purchase and draw application systems. Draw results will be posted only to portal accounts.

It’s easy to create an account. Just click on “My Account” in the upper right-hand corner of the www.azgfd.gov home page and then select the “Register” option, filling in the requested information. A portal account is mobile-friendly, so customers can view their information on their smartphones.

AZGFD is dedicated to assisting applicants with the online process. All department offices are equipped with customer computers that can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customer service representatives can be reached by calling (602) 942-3000. As a reminder, customer service representatives will be available to provide assistance only until 8 p.m. February 13. (deadline day).

A valid hunting license (or combination hunting and fishing license) is required to hunt wildlife in Arizona. No one under 14 may hunt big game without having completed a Hunter Education course. While it is not necessary for anyone 10 to 13 to complete a Hunter Education course before applying for a hunt permit-tag, these courses fill quickly. Consider registering now by visiting www.azgfd.gov/huntered or calling 623-236-7239.

Family of four found deceased in Parks

PARKS – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Parks, Arizona for a welfare check and discovered four deceased subjects inside the home.

On January 1st at 12:26 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from a friend of a family that was staying at a residence in Parks. The caller said family members had been trying to contact them for a few days with no success and had become concerned. The Reporting Party requested a welfare check on the family.

At 1:17 pm, a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy from the Williams Substation arrived at the residence in Parks, AZ. The Deputy located a vehicle matching the description given by the caller in the driveway of the cabin reported to belong to the family.

After approaching the cabin, the Deputy reported a strong odor of gas coming from the home. Additional units were requested, and Ponderosa Fire Department was notified and asked to respond.

At 1:43 pm Ponderosa Fire units arrived on scene. Fire personnel put on protective breathing equipment to enter the residence. They located four deceased individuals inside the residence.

They are identified as 32-year-old Anthony Capitano, 32-year-old Meaghan Capitano, 4-year-old Lincoln Capitano, and 3-year-old Kingsley Capitano of El Mirage, AZ.

At this time, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting further investigation.