Poisoning death

MIDLAND Authorities said carbon monoxide poisoning could be to blame for the death of a Midland woman. The Midland Fire Department, responding to an emergency call in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, removed a half dozen sick people from the Rock House assisted living house and found 53-year-old Betty Contreras dead when they arrived.

The six people exhibited symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, including headache, vomiting and nausea, Assistant Fire Marshal Rick Hickman said. They were released from Midland Memorial Hospital later Wednesday morning.

Hickman said the poisoning is suspected to have occurred sometime between 8 p.m. and midnight. He said an autopsy has been ordered to determine whether Contreras’ death could be attributed to the poisonous gas. A gas heater was named as a possible source.

"If this does come back as a carbon monoxide death, then we start looking at the appliances," Hickman said. "Until that time we’re at something of a standstill."

Hickman said Contreras’ body was sent to Tarrant County for an autopsy, though a timetable for the results was not immediately released.

No one answered the phone Wednesday afternoon at the assisted living home.