Exhaust Fumes May Have Killed Pair in Storage Unit

Carbon monoxide poisoning from automobile exhaust emerged as a possible cause of death for an Anaheim couple whose bodies were found in a rented storage unit in Orange, the county coroner’s office said Saturday.

Police on Friday found the decomposed bodies of Timothy Roy Kirby, 30, and Lydia Perez, 32, also known as Lydia Hernandez, in a 12-by-24 1/2-foot storage unit on North Manzanita Street. The man who rented the adjacent space summoned police after he heard a radio blaring continuously for four days inside the neighboring unit.

Although final results from toxicological studies will not be available for six to nine weeks, preliminary findings suggest the presence of carbon monoxide, according to Rick Plows, supervising deputy coroner.

“All we can say is the autopsies were completed today, but we are not classifying the cause of death,” Plows said.

Orange police Sgt. Tom Jordan said Bill Tessman, who rented the adjacent unit, had helped Kirby jump start his car on Monday. Tessman told police that Kirby backed the car into the storage unit and closed the door. Tessman later heard the car’s engine running, Jordan said. Kirby and Perez were found on the floor of the unit near the car, Jordan said. Tessman could not be reached for comment.

According to the rental agreement with MJV Storage, the space was rented for storage of woodworking equipment. Police found tools and woodworking materials, and said they believe that the couple made clocks. The couple had reportedly cared for a paraplegic man who lived with them, but the man did not report them missing.

Jordan said he did not know if the man had been found or questioned by police investigators.