Mother and son, 14, die in Kendall after apparent propane leak
Press Release, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke
KENDALL – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the circumstances involving the death of a mother and her son in the Town of Kendall.
Orleans County Undersheriff Christopher Bourke reported that Wednesday at 7:27 p.m., the 911 Center in Albion received a report of a propane gas leak at 2245 Center Rd. The Kendall Fire Department was dispatched and upon arrival discovered two bodies in an upstairs bedroom.
The deceased individuals were identified as Joan C. Gilman, 38, and her son Richard J. Gilman Jr., 14. The Sheriff’s Office learned that the electrical power had been turned off at the duplex a few days ago and a portable generator was being used along with some propane powered appliances during this period of time.
Both victims were transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office will continue the investigation and piece together the chain of events that led up to this tragedy.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office in this investigation are the Kendall Fire Department, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit, Town of Kendall Code Enforcement, investigators from the New York State Academy of Fire Science and the Orleans County Coroner’s Office.
