By MARIDEE LAWSON

Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:28 AM CST

The cause of death has been determined following the discovery of two bodies in adjoining apartments late last week.

Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker was notified Friday evening that the official ruling would be “accidental” death. Postmortem checks showed both victims had lethal levels of carbon monoxide gases in their bodies.

The body of a 67-year-old Judith Wheeler was found about 7 a.m. on Nov. 5 after police were called to her home on Potosi Street. It was later reported that her body was found near her bed.

A short time later, at about 10:30 a.m. and while police were still trying to determine the cause of Wheeler’s death, officers were asked to check on 82-year-old Charles  H. Borchers Jr., who lived in the duplex adjacent to Wheeler. Family members had reportedly been trying to contact him by phone and could not reach him.

Baker said both homes were locked up and there was no sign of forced entry at either residence. Borchers was reportedly found sitting in a chair in his apartment. There was no sign of foul play. But the next discovery would be the answer to the two mysterious deaths.

Police found Bochers’ car sitting in the garage with the key in the “on” position and the battery dead. The garage door was closed, as was the door between the garage and apartment. It’s reasoned that, at some point, Bochers accidentally left the car running and went back inside his apartment.

The fire department checked the carbon monoxide level in both sides of the duplex and found there was a lethal amount in both living areas.

 

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