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Whitley Coroner rules out ‘environmental factors’ in death of brother, sister
Posted On 15 Mar 2011
Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies are still investigating the death of an adult brother and sister, who both died less than 12 hours apart Saturday at their home in Emlyn.
Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said it’s departmental policy to treat all death investigations as homicides until it’s proven differently.
Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley said authorities don’t believe any kind of environmental factors are to blame for the deaths.
“There was no traumatic injury or anything like that,” Croley said.
Harrell, who has been a police officer for more than 40 years, said this is the first time he has ever encountered a brother and sister dieing hours apart while living at the same residence.
“It is unusual to have two deaths at the same residence on the same day. As far as what caused the deaths, we are just going to have to wait on the autopsy,” Harrell noted.
About 11:18 a.m., Deputy Jeff Anderson was dispatched to the Emlyn residence of Carol L. Stevens, 40, after she was found to be unresponsive, Harrell said.
“When emergency personnel arrived, they found Carol L. Stevens at her residence unresponsive with no vital signs,” Harrell said.
At that point, Croley was contacted and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Croley said that the cause of death is still undetermined pending autopsy and toxicology reports.
Croley said that he can’t speculate on whether drug or alcohol involvement is suspected, and won’t know until toxicology results are complete.
The case is still under investigation by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.
Later that day about 8:54 p.m., Sgt. Shawn Jackson was dispatched to the same residence after Stevens’ brother, Robert Rains, 49, was found unresponsive. He also lived at the residence.
Rains was transported by ambulance to Jellico Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Campbell County Medical Examiner is assisting with that investigation, Croley said.
Kentucky State Police assisted at the scene of Rains’ death.
“Both deaths are still under investigation by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office and the Whitley County Coroner,” Harrell added.
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It is ridiculous that an online news article would contain such a blatant spelling error. Seriously, dieing? It’s dying. Only in Corbin.