Vandalia woman’s death ruled a suicide

UPDATE @ 12:58 p.m. May 26

Patricia Bolden died as a result of overdosing on a Benadryl-like product, according to Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Betz said the manner of death was determined to be a suicide.

UPDATE @ 1 p.m. March 31

A few more details have been released on the investigation into Patricia Bolden’s death.

The time of death was estimated to be 10 p.m. March 27, the night before her body was found, according to Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Medics who responded to the 911 call from her husband the following day pronounced her dead at 1:06 p.m. March 28, according to Betz.

The preliminary finding for cause of death has not yet been determined.

UPDATE @ 8:50 a.m. March 31

Carbon monoxide poisoning has been ruled out as a possible cause of death, according to the investigator at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Toxicology screenings conducted as part of the autopsy did not indicate lethal traces of CO on the body of Patricia Bolden.

More tests will be run today. The investigator said a preliminary cause of death has not been determined.

UPDATE @ 2:18 p.m.: Patricia Bolden may not have been aware she had a CO detector in her apartment or that it may have needed fresh batteries.

Patricia’s husband, Bryant Bolden, of Huber Heights, told News Center 7’s John Bedell he went to her apartment Saturday because he hadn’t heard from her in a couple of days.

When she didn’t answer his knocks, he used his key and opened the door. Bryant felt weight pressed against the door, which turned out to be his wife’s body. Bryant said he hopes to get answers to some questions. He said he helped Patricia replace batteries on the smoke detectors in her apartment a week ago Tuesday because she thought she heard a beeping.

Bolden said he didn’t know there was a CO detector in the apartment and thinks his wife didn’t know either.

Now, he’s trying to notify friends and family members about what happened. He and Patricia were separated, but were trying to work things out, he said.

“She was a great mom. She loved her kids. She always had a smile on her face,” he said. “None of us expected this … Mainly I want to make sure my boys are OK.”

Patricia Bolden is survived by a stepdaughter and two sons.

UPDATE @ 1:40 p.m.: Vandalia Police Lt. Kurt Althouse said their investigation is ongoing and is contingent on the autopsy report and whether the CO detector in the apartment was working.

The detector has been sent to the lab to determine if it was functioning properly.

Althouse said there doesn’t appear to be any signs of foul play.

Fire Chief Chad Follick said today the Vectren worker at the scene identified a problem with the furnace in the apartment after gas service was turned back on.

UPDATE @ 9:32 a.m. (March 30): While the Montgomery County Coroner's Office runs tests to confirm that carbon monoxide is the culprit that led to 43-year-old Patricia Bolden's death, we're working to learn more about previous calls for service on CO alarms at Brookfield Apartments.

A former resident there recalls an incident in October 2013 in which the heating unit in her apartment set off the CO detector.

According to Vandalia public safety records, police and fire crews responded and encountered high levels of CO - 50 PPM.

The resident tells us she was grateful for having a functioning CO detector and hopes others can learn how important they are from her story and the recent fatal incidents.

Prior to this weekend’s incident, three children died as a result of CO poisoning in their home in Troy. A fourth child survived and was able to recover after an extended stay in the intensive care unit.

UPDATE @ 9:46 p.m. (March 29): The preliminary cause of death for a woman who died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning Saturday is still pending, the Montgomery County Coroner's Office said this evening.

Patricia Bolden, 43, was found dead inside her Maple Street apartment in Vandalia.

An autopsy was performed today, but full toxicology reports typically take weeks. However, it is possible some early results will be available Monday or later this week, according to an investigator.

UPDATE @ 6:51 p.m.: A woman who was found dead from an apparent CO poisoning has been identified as 43-year-old Patricia Bolden by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday.

UPDATE @ 4:28 p.m. (March 28): A woman was found dead from an apparent CO poisoning in her second-floor apartment, according to officials.

Two people were treated at the scene and several adjacent apartments were evacuated.

Vandalia Police Lt. Dan Swafford said his department got a call from a man who reported he just found his wife unresponsive and not breathing inside her apartment.

Swafford: “She was up against the door, so he had to push something, which ended up being the female that was in there, out of the way to get inside. He immediately called us.”

The woman, believed to be in her 40s, lived alone.

Swafford said there’s no indication of foul play and the heating unit in the apartment will have to be investigated for possible leaks.

Vandalia Fire Chief Chad Follick said his crews found high levels of CO at the front door of the woman’s apartment.

Crews then made an evacuation plan, secured the utilities services and started to ventilate the building.

There were about 10 people evacuated from two buildings, Follick said.

“There are CO detectors here, we’re not sure about their functionality,” Follick said. “It was the quick thinking of the captain on scene that decided they wanted to meter it. It just didn’t feel right to them, so they wanted to meter it.”

Follick said each apartment unit has its own heating unit and/or water heater. Vectren was called to the scene to assist in the investigation.

Two people were evaluated by medics per request, but they were not transported.

“We believe it’s some type of gas-fired appliance in the building somewhere,” Follick said.

Firefighters were going door-to-door checking the service for each unit.

The building inspector will determine if and when people can return to their homes.

UPDATE @ 2:54 p.m. (March 28): A coroner's investigator has arrived on scene as well as a Vectren crew.

Police were investigating this apparent fatal incident.

Scanner traffic indicated fire crews encountered high levels of carbon monoxide in the air when they arrived on scene.

No official word yet on what happened.

FIRST REPORT

Fire and rescue workers as well as police in Vandalia are at a possible gas leak investigation at an apartment building on Maple Street.

Crews were called to the scene in the 100 block shortly after 1 p.m.

Police caution tape was barricading one of the units there, where windows were open and fans were running to ventilate rooms.

We have a crew on scene and will provide updates as more information becomes available.