LAKE MILTON, Ohio (WKBN) — The deaths of an elderly couple who died in a January fire in their Lake Milton home have been ruled accidental due to smoke inhalation.
The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office said Murle McLaughin, 94, and his wife, 85-year-old Kaye McLaughin, died due to “asphyxia due to smoke inhalation” in a Jan. 23 fire at their home on Roselawn Drive.
Reports said firefighters who got to the home about 3:40 a.m. found it completely covered in flames.
They knew the couple was inside, but could not get in the front door because of the fire.
Firefighters also tried a back door, but were unable to get in because the door was blocked from the inside.
Crews eventually made it inside through a side door, reports said.
Reports said the two were found in separate rooms and put in an ambulance.
Reports said Kaye called her son about a half hour earlier, and told him the wood burner in the house was on fire and the flames were spreading.