Coroner determination: Tower children suffocated from smoke

Updated at 5:38 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner today said he has concluded the three children who died in the Centralia house fire last month died from smoke inhalation.

Benjamin D. Tower, 12; Madeline R. Tower, 10; and Samuel J. Tower, 7, never made it out of their upstairs bedrooms when fire broke out during the night on March 4 at the split-level home on Ham Hill Road, according to Coroner Warren McLeod.

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Ben, Maddy, Sam and Sue Tower

McLeod said asphyxiation from smoke and carbon monoxide blocked their breathing and it’s more likely than not they did not suffer.

Their manner of death is currently labeled undetermined, because McLeod has not not received the results of the investigation into cause of the fire itself.

A joint investigation into the cause of the blaze is being conducted by the Centralia Police Department and Riverside Fire Authority.

Their mother Sue Tower escaped to safety from her bedroom on the lower level of the home.

The Centralia Police Department indicated today they expect to complete their investigation within the next two weeks.

They will notify the family of the results and then hold a press conference, according to detective Patty Finch.

4 Responses to “Coroner determination: Tower children suffocated from smoke”

  1. Plenty O Toole says:

    It’s not against the law to not have a smoke detector in your home!

  2. fire alarm says:

    negligence on the mothers part? I mean isnt it the law to have a working fire alarm?

  3. BleeBloo says:

    Everyone check the batteries in your smoke detectors, and if you don’t have one drop whatever you’re doing and go buy one.

  4. Bo Rupert says:

    Thoughts and prayers to the family