Carbon monoxide blamed for family's death

DETROIT, July 16 (UPI) -- Fire officials in Detroit suspect a man and his three children died Thursday as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Senior fire officials told The Detroit News Vaughn Reed, 38, Mar'Keisha Reed, 16, DeMarco Owens, 11, and DeMante Owens, 6, died in the family's west side home.

"My babies are gone," said neighbor Crystal Stitt, 21, who was the godmother of the youngest children. "I raised them. I knew them since I was 12 years old."

Fire officials said Reed's wife survived the fumes.

A neighbor told the Detroit News the mother received medical attention for breathing problems.

The Detroit Free Press said she had attempted to get help from a neighbor early Thursday.

Fire investigators reportedly found a gas generator in the home's basement, the apparent source of the fumes.