CAMERON, MO (KCTV) -
An autopsy has determined what killed a father and his two children in Cameron.
The bodies of Robert Borchardt, 36, and his two children, 9-year-old Chelsey Borchardt and 7-year-old Tucker Borchardt, were found in the family's home after a fire in August.
An autopsy determined all three died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Cameron Police Department has classified the deaths to be accidental.
Neighbors said the father lived in the home with his children who split their time between him and their mother.
The mother of the children became worried when they did not come home from school on her day to have them. She went to the home and discovered the bodies, then called police.
Cameron Fire Chief Mile O'Donnell says he can't repeat enough the importance of keeping a working smoke detector in your home.
"I actually carry smoke detectors in my vehicle," he said. "Smoke detectors do save lives."
It could have made the difference for Borchardt and his two young children after a fire started on their stove. The family had smoke detectors in the home, but they weren't working.
"A smoke detector doesn't do any good if it's not hanging on the wall, mounted securely, if it doesn't have a battery in it," O'Donnell said.
The outside of the house didn't show visible signs of damage, and firefighters said the flames were contained in the kitchen. The fire was out by the time anyone got to the house, and that left many wondering how the family died.
"As a fire burns and it burns down the oxygen starts to go away, the materials that it is actually burning emits carbon monoxide and it is a cause of death," O'Donnell said. "Just because the fire is out doesn't mean that the danger is gone. You still have all those chemicals."
And since people can't see or smell carbon monoxide, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to protect anyone and the biggest safety item to have, O'Donnell said.
Click here to read previous coverage.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
