An Onondaga County Grand Jury has indicted Glenn Collins on charges stemming from his alleged role in the death of his daughter. District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick says an investigation has shown Glenn Collins had been using a generator in the basement to power his Salina home after National Grid terminated his services as a result of years of non-payment. On August 28th, the day before his daughter Gabriella died, Fitzpatrick says Collins and a female friend had gone to the Turning Stone Casino, leaving Gabriella and his 14-year old son, Jaden, at home.
“On the way, Jaden called his father to report that he felt sick; and that Gabriella was crying. The evidence also shows that this is not the first time that Jaden had called his father to discuss health issues as a result of this generator being run in the house,” Fitzpatrick said at the indictment Thursday.
Collins returned home the following morning to find Gabriella unresponsive and Jaden unconscious. His son survived, but is still hospitalized. Fitzpatrick believes Collins’ conduct is indicative of manslaughter, and he says that the evidence supports that claim.
“He is a certified heating and air conditioning contractor. He was aware that the generator’s operation had made his children sick in the past. The generator itself has a prominent warning label that it is not for indoor use. Finally, the defendant was aware that carbon dioxide fumes were being generated, as evidenced by his clumsy attempt to ventilate the basement.”
Fitzpatrick says there were also no carbon monoxide detectors in the home, and that, if convicted, Collins could face up to 15 years in prison.
