Coroner’s Office Believes Petrolia Death to Be a Suicide

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Humboldt Bay Fire Hazmat team investigating the curious death in Petrolia. [Photo provided by Cal Fire.]

The death of an Oakland man near Petrolia on February 2 is believed to be a suicide, said Humboldt County Deputy Coroner Ernie Stewart today. “Chemicals were used to create a carbon monoxide atmosphere in the vehicle,” he explained. Sulfuric acid and formic acid were mixed together to create the poisonous gas.

This is an unusual but not unknown method of suicide. The gas can create a “toxic gas that poses significant hazards for death investigators, first responders and bystanders.” However, in this case, the first responders were not harmed.

“It is not uncommon for people to go out to the Petrolia area to commit suicide,” Stewart said. The man who died was from Oakland but had “been camping there with his family as a youth,” Stewart explained. “It is a beautiful area,” added Stewart.

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veteransfriend
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veteransfriend
8 years ago

RIP

N
Guest
N
8 years ago

RIP, Mr.

To anyone thinking of following him, please hang on. I know this world can hurt but it is worth sticking around. Really.

Tall Trees
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Tall Trees
8 years ago

I hope his family feel some comfort knowing he was not missing. This is very sad. I go to Petrolia to rejuvenate myself…
We’ve all been desperate. Things do change for the better, just hang on.