PRHA: Monoxide detectors tampered with

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY.com) - PRHA says carbon monoxide detectors in the home of a couple that died of carbon monoxide poisoning were tampered with.

Inez and Leroy Stith were found dead inside their apartment on South Street in June, and their cause of death remains carbon monoxide poisoning.

Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority's Executive Director Kathy Warren says the Portsmouth Fire Marshal's Office told her Tuesday the detectors were tampered with. She said the wire cages protecting the detectors were pried from the wall, the wires were disconnected and the batteries removed.

PRHA says they had installed two new detectors in the unit on May 9 a little more than a month before the Stith's deaths.

Since the couple's death, carbon monoxide has been detected in other PRHA apartments during routine checks. PRHA is currently in the process of replacing 130 water heaters. The cause of the carbon monoxide leak in the Stith's apartment has not been released.

10 On Your Side tried to independently confirm the tampering information with the Fire Marshal's Office, but our calls have not been returned.