Coroner: 2 Men Killed by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in South Carolina Complex

Article

A South Carolina coroner says two men who died at a public housing complex had both been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts told news outlets Monday the cause of death for 61-year-old Calvin Witherspoon Jr. and 30-year-old Derrick Roper. They were found dead Jan. 17 in their separate apartments at Allen Benedict Court in Columbia, which is run by the Columbia Housing Authority.

Fire officials previously said none of the apartments had legally mandated carbon monoxide detectors. Authorities evacuated all residents after finding high gas levels in about 65 of the 244 units.

Out-of-date fire extinguishers, missing or broken smoke detectors and closets with charred walls were also found in some apartments, the Columbia Fire Department said in inspection notes it released Thursday.

The firefighters also found roaches, bed bugs, rodent droppings and some apartments that didn’t have a single window that could open.

The more than 400 residents evacuated have been given temporary housing and help with transportation and the Housing Authority will give them as much help as they need as long as possible, the organization’s attorney Bob Coble said in a statement.

A statement from lawyers for Tammy Basinger and Khaylis Scott say the two have filed a class-action lawsuit for fellow-tenants against the Columbia Housing Authority seeking damages.