Three men have been indicted in connection with the 2019 deaths of a New Hampshire couple who died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. According to grand jury indictments, Richard B Mallett Jr., Philip L. Poirier and Adam Vignet, licensed gas fitters, were each indicted on two counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of April and John Courtney, who were found dead in their Lyman home in January 2019. An autopsy showed their deaths were from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Mallett Jr. and Poirier were also indicted each on one count of reckless conduct. The indictment said the Courtney family requested the contractors to install a gas boiler and vent system.”Adam Vigent conducted a site visit of the residence located at 29 Wilderness Acres Road in connection with a request by the Courtney family to install a heating system; and … Adam Vigent developed an installation plan for the gas boiler and vent systems…” part of the indictment said.It goes on to say, “…said installation plan included the installation of the vent terminal pipe to the exterior of the residence through a reused home from an old vent system; and…Adam Vigent directed the system installers, Phillip Poirer and Richard Mallet Jr., to complete the installation of the gas boiler and vent systems consistent with the said installation plan and reused hole;…said hole was not compliant with the manufacturer-required height for snow load specific to the area…”The indictment stated Mallett Jr. and Poirier were “aware through his training and experience, that such installation was improper and hazardous to the safe functioning of the system…”It also alleges improper installation of the piping, causing it to break, sending CO gas into the home. “…only used one screw, as opposed to the manufacturer required three screws, at an elbow joint connecting the interior/exterior piping, leaving the said joint vulnerable to damage and/or disconnection and in fact causing the joint to disconnect;…said improper installation caused the cycling of exhaust gases back into the boiler and residence, increasing the carbon monoxide levels in the residence to a fatal level…”According to New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul Parisi, it’s not often criminal charges are filed in carbon monoxide deaths.”Occasionally it does happen and as I say, we investigate all unintentional carbon monoxide releases to determine whether or not there is a criminal element to it,” Parisi said.At the time, the state fire marshal said there was a carbon monoxide detector in the home but it did not have batteries.
Three men have been indicted in connection with the 2019 deaths of a New Hampshire couple who died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to grand jury indictments, Richard B Mallett Jr., Philip L. Poirier and Adam Vignet, licensed gas fitters, were each indicted on two counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of April and John Courtney, who were found dead in their Lyman home in January 2019. An autopsy showed their deaths were from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Mallett Jr. and Poirier were also indicted each on one count of reckless conduct.
The indictment said the Courtney family requested the contractors to install a gas boiler and vent system.
“Adam Vigent conducted a site visit of the residence located at 29 Wilderness Acres Road in connection with a request by the Courtney family to install a heating system; and … Adam Vigent developed an installation plan for the gas boiler and vent systems…” part of the indictment said.
It goes on to say, “…said installation plan included the installation of the vent terminal pipe to the exterior of the residence through a reused home from an old vent system; and…Adam Vigent directed the system installers, Phillip Poirer and Richard Mallet Jr., to complete the installation of the gas boiler and vent systems consistent with the said installation plan and reused hole;…said hole was not compliant with the manufacturer-required height for snow load specific to the area…”
The indictment stated Mallett Jr. and Poirier were “aware through his training and experience, that such installation was improper and hazardous to the safe functioning of the system…”
It also alleges improper installation of the piping, causing it to break, sending CO gas into the home.
“…only used one screw, as opposed to the manufacturer required three screws, at an elbow joint connecting the interior/exterior piping, leaving the said joint vulnerable to damage and/or disconnection and in fact causing the joint to disconnect;…said improper installation caused the cycling of exhaust gases back into the boiler and residence, increasing the carbon monoxide levels in the residence to a fatal level…”
According to New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul Parisi, it’s not often criminal charges are filed in carbon monoxide deaths.
“Occasionally it does happen and as I say, we investigate all unintentional carbon monoxide releases to determine whether or not there is a criminal element to it,” Parisi said.
At the time, the state fire marshal said there was a carbon monoxide detector in the home but it did not have batteries.
