Md. police: 8 dead in home, generator found without gas

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) — A single dad and his seven children were found dead in their one-story home, relatives said, and though officials gave no identities or details on the cause of the deaths, the man's stepfather said he had been trying to keep the family warm with a generator after the power was cut because of an outstanding bill.

Lloyd Edwards told The Associated Press his stepson, Rodney Todd, 36, had bought the generator after the power was shut off to the home in Princess Anne, about 60 miles southeast of Annapolis on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He said those who died were Todd and Todd's two sons and five daughters.

"It was just disbelief. It's so hard. How can you understand something like this?" Edwards said. "He was an outstanding dad. ... To keep his seven children warm, he bought a generator, and the carbon monoxide consumed them."

Authorities would not confirm any information about possible carbon-monoxide poisoning, but Princess Anne police Chief Scott Keller told The AP there was no foul play and that a generator with no gasoline was found in the kitchen. He confirmed that the electricity to home was turned off and said officers were looking into when that began.

Matt Likovich, a spokesman for Delmarva Power, would not say whether the power to the home had been cut off. He said the matter is being investigated.