Carbon monoxide poisoning linked to 2 Marco Polo deaths

Two of three residents killed in a high-rise fire at the Marco Polo condominium July 14 had significant carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Honolulu deputy chief medical examiner.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Masahiko Koba­yashi recently completed autopsy reports on Britt Reller, 54; his mother, Melby Dilley, 87; and Joann Kuwata, 71.

Dilley, who lived in an apartment with Reller; and Kuwata, who lived in a separate apartment, had “lethal levels” of carboxyhemoglobin, or carbon monoxide in the blood, according to Kobayashi.

The three residents lived on the 26th floor, across the hall from where the fire started in unit 2602. Each autopsy report classified the manner of their deaths as an accident.

In mid-October the Hono­lulu Fire Department completed its investigation and deemed the cause of the fire as “undetermined.” Other parties are continuing to investigate.

Damage to the 36-story structure was estimated at more than $100 million.

According to Kobayashi, evidence of soot was found in the airways of the three residents.

Reller’s autopsy revealed he had a significant heart condition and a relatively low level of carbon monoxide poisoning.

During a phone interview Monday, Kobayashi said Reller died either of carbon monoxide poisoning and burn injuries; carbon mono­xide poisoning and dilated cardiomyopathy; or a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning, burn injuries and dilated cardiomyopathy.

In the autopsy reports for both Reller and his mother, Kobayashi listed the causes of death as “conflagration injuries” due to evidence of smoke inhalation and severe burn injuries to nearly every part of their bodies.

Kobayashi said he couldn’t determine the level of burns they sustained before they died, as Reller and Dilley might’ve been exposed to flames after they became unconscious or incapacitated due to the carbon monoxide poisoning.

The report said Kuwata did not have any burn injuries caused by flames, but was exposed to heat. Her cause of death was listed as smoke inhalation, with possible effects of heat or thermal injuries as a contributing cause.

The medical examiner’s office didn’t investigate the death of a fourth resident, Marilyn Van Gieson, 81. She lived on the 32nd floor and died Aug. 3 from health complications resulting from the fire.

Van Gieson, a retired librarian, waited four hours in her apartment for firefighters to carry her down and was transported to a hospital.

Her son said she had lung problems before the fire broke out and that she was exposed to smoke.