Racoon in furnance responsible for Troy's man death

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

Troy -- Troy police said Tuesday a 92-year-old resident died of carbon monoxide poisoning this week after a raccoon got stuck in a furnace ventilation pipe in the home.

The victim, Frederick William Braga, was found in the basement of his home on Binbrooke about 12:51 p.m. Monday by police. A friend became concerned and called police when Braga failed to show up for a lunch appointment and did not answer his telephone.

A strong odor was detected in the home along with black residue throughout the dwelling. A supervisor from the Troy Building Department and Fire Department investigators determined the likely source of the odor and residue was the furnace. A dead raccoon was located in a vent pipe from the furnace to the chimney. They suspect the raccoon blocked exhaust vapors from exiting the furnace through the vent pipe, which resulted in carbon monoxide and other byproducts of combustion entering the home

Braga was last seen alive by a neighbor about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Investigators found mesh chimney covers on the ground near the chimney. They did not find any carbon monoxide or smoke detectors in the home.

The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death as accidental due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

mmartindale@detnews.com (248) 338-0319