Polish police have arrested a chimney sweep in connection with a fatal carbon monoxide poisoning that killed a woman and her three children in Chełmno.
Tragedy in Building Near Old Town
The incident occurred in one of the buildings on the outskirts of Chełmno’s Old Town. As a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, a 31-year-old woman and her three children, ages 2, 7, and 12, died. The bodies were discovered by firefighters called after the woman’s sister reported that she hadn’t been able to contact her for several days and the children weren’t showing up at school. Upon entering the apartment, authorities found extremely high levels of carbon monoxide. The family had been using a gas heater.
Chimney Sweep Arrested. Performed Inspections in Building
According to a TVN24 reporter, on Thursday, January 22, police detained a chimney sweep who had previously conducted inspections in the building where the tragedy occurred. The man is to be interrogated. So far, it has not been disclosed whether he will face charges or what role he might have played in the case. Investigators are checking whether the inspections were carried out properly and whether the technical documentation matched the actual condition of the building.
Earlier Arrest for Building Co-owner
A few days earlier, the prosecutor’s office detained Joanna M., a co-owner of the house. The woman was temporarily arrested and charged with incitement to forge documents regarding the inspection and control of a gas heater. “The co-owner of the apartment, Joanna M., was charged with incitement to forge documents confirming the activities of inspection and control of the gas heater. She tried to obtain such a document after this tragedy was revealed,” stated Izabela Oliver, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Toruń. She added that the woman was aware that the person she approached did not have the required qualifications.
Investigation into Involuntary Manslaughter
The prosecutor’s office is conducting proceedings in the direction of involuntary manslaughter. At this stage, the involvement of third parties in the event itself is excluded, but possible technical and administrative negligence are being examined. One of the likely hypotheses is the poor condition of the gas heater. Autopsies of the victims’ bodies are expected to determine when exactly the tragedy occurred.
Residents Forced to Leave Building
After the incident, the building supervision ordered the remaining residents of the tenement building to vacate their premises until a detailed technical inspection is carried out. Inspectors will check, among other things, gas installations, chimney ducts, and ventilation. In a conversation with TVN’s “Uwaga,” a previous tenant of the apartment where the tragedy occurred reported that she had reported problems with the installation to Joanna M. many years ago.
