The East Haven man found dead in his home last Thursday, where firefighters measured dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, was Jeffrey Wilson, 62, police said Tuesday.
East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said in a news release Tuesday, Oct. 27, that preliminary findings suggest Wilson’s death was accidental and resulted from elevated levels of carbon monoxide inside the residence. The East Haven Police Department’s Investigative Services Division is still investigating. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. This follows our Oct. 23 report on the incident, when officials had not released the man’s name or age.
What firefighters found
Firefighters were called to the home at about 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, for a report of an unconscious person. A family member met them and said the man was believed to be dead inside, police said.
As crews approached the front door, a carbon monoxide detector attached to the department’s medical equipment bags went off. Readings inside the home exceeded 500 parts per million in some places, which police described as an extremely hazardous environment. Firefighters pulled back, put on protective equipment and went back in. They found an adult man dead in his bed. He could not be resuscitated.
Fire personnel looked for the source of the gas and found a water heater that appeared to have been improperly installed, a finding confirmed by the East Haven fire marshal and the town’s building official, according to the release. Investigators also found a carbon monoxide detector in the home that did not have a battery.
Police statement
“We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Wilson’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Murgo said.
Fire chief’s advice: check your CO alarms
East Haven Fire Chief Matt Marcarelli said in the release: “This incident is a tragic reminder that carbon monoxide is a silent and potentially deadly threat. In this case, the carbon monoxide detectors carried by our firefighters provided an immediate warning of the dangerous conditions inside the residence. We urge every resident to make sure their carbon monoxide alarms are installed, functioning properly, and equipped with working batteries. These simple precautions can save lives.”
For more on carbon monoxide dangers and steps residents can take, contact Marcarelli at mmarcarelli@easthavenfire.com. If a CO alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911 from outside.
Source: East Haven Police Department news release, Oct. 27, 2026 (Capt. Joseph M. Murgo), as published in full by East Haven Patch; details also reported by the New Haven Register and WFSB.
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