Tests confirm CO killed four in motel

Carbon monoxide from a pool heater caused the death of four people at a Yerington motel in April, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Yerington Police Chief R.J. Pellegrini said toxicology tests revealed Phillip Doll, 26, of Yerington and Juan Pablo Chavez, 27, and his wife, Veronica Espinoza Chavez, 20, both of Richmond, Calif., had 70 percent of the oxygen in their blood replaced by carbon monoxide. Donna Vega-Robles, 30, of San Pablo, Calif., had a blood saturation level of 32 percent.

"Ms. Vega-Robles has a lower (percentage) than the others due to her being aggressively resuscitated and transported to a local hospital," Pellegrini said.

On Easter Sunday, a tenant at the Casino West Motel reported a water leak from the room above. When a maintenance worker went to investigate, he found Veronica Chavez fully clothed and unconscious in the bathtub with the water still running and her husband and friend Vega-Robles unconscious in the room. Doll was pronounced dead at the scene. The trio had come to visit Doll with whom Juan Chavez was best friends from high school in Arizona. They intended to share Easter dinner at Doll's parents' home later that day.

Pellegrini said the case is still under investigation, but the only likely source of the carbon monoxide would be from the outdoor pool's heater.

"The heat for the motel rooms themselves are electric; the only gas source for carbon monoxide would be for the pool heater in the room directly below," he said.

Pellegrini was unsure if the heater has since been disconnected.

Vickie Brannan, general manager of Casino West Motel, read from a prepared statement Wednesday, "In my 18 years at Casino West, many of them as general manager, we have never had a serious injury, lawsuit or death on the property. Myself and all of the employees have always prided ourselves on being a family. We are known for taking care of customers, and safety has always been emphasized."

The lead agency in the investigation, Department of Public Safety, will turn over the investigation to the Lyon County district attorney for review once all the reports are in. Pellegrini said it's unknown if any criminal charges could apply to the circumstances of the deaths.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.