Landlord Charged with Reckless Homicide in Tenants’ Carbon Monoxide Deaths

An Ohio landlord is charged with reckless homicide in the carbon monoxide deaths of a tenant and her three children who kept warm with a space heater powered by a portable generator.

The landlord, Steven Snow, gave the generator to his tenants to allow them to keep warm while they waited for electrical power to be switched on, the Associated Press reports. Snow had rented the home near Toledo to Tammy McDaniel, who couldn’t afford her previous rent after her boyfriend moved out.

Snow offered to rent the home to McDaniel, a longtime friend, even though he hadn’t finished repairing the property and utilities weren’t yet hooked up, the story says. Snow pleaded not guilty to the charges last month, the Toledo Blade reports.

Ohio does not require carbon monoxide detectors. Small engines like those used in portable generators can produce carbon monoxide and lead to death, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.