Two Peruvian siblings died in a Richmond, Utah, apartment in a case involving suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a report published October 18. The children were found without life alongside three other family members in the residence.
The deceased siblings have been identified by their initials as J. G. A. S., aged 11, and G. S. A. S., aged 5. Both were originally from Huancayo and were living in the United States with their father. According to information from the Cache County Sheriff's Office, the man shared the apartment with Fermín Palafox Herrera, 43, with whom he worked. Both parents held custody of their respective children.
In addition to the siblings, the children of Palafox Herrera, aged 16 and 11, were also found deceased in the home. The five victims died under circumstances that remain under investigation by authorities.
Detectives are working to reconstruct the events to determine the exact cause of death. One hypothesis being examined is the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the home, as a vehicle was found running in the garage. A neighbor reportedly entered the dwelling after hearing carbon monoxide alarms and discovered the five individuals.
Investigators are currently examining the vehicle and analyzing objects within the home to establish a sequence of events. While the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning remains a working hypothesis, the exact cause of death is pending determination by a medical examiner.
In Huancayo, the family is mourning the loss of the children. The grandmother, Julia Orejón Echevarría, is holding onto the children's belongings, including toys of Superman, Spider-Man, and Captain America. The 11-year-old was a student at Sebastián Lorente school and had received a scholarship to study at Claretiano.
The children's mother, Yuvana Soyo Orejón, has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of 10,000 dollars to cover funeral expenses and the cost of transporting the remains to Huancayo. Additionally, the Peruvian community in Utah planned a solidarity activity for Saturday, Oct. 17, at Forrester Acres park in Smithfield, which included food sales and a volleyball tournament to support the affected families.
