Nashville Restaurant Owner Died Of Carbon Dioxide Poisoning In Cooler, Likely Overcome Within A 'Few [View all]

[Liberal_in_LA]

Source: ABC

A Nashville restaurateur who was found dead in a walk-in refrigerator died of suffocation from carbon dioxide inside, and was likely overcome by the gas in a matter of minutes, the Nashville medical examiner ruled today.

Jay Luther, 47, was found dead Monday morning in the cooler of the Germantown East Cafe. Luther, who was co-owner of the cafe, pressed a burglar alarm in the cooler that called police to the scene.

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When Luther went to check on the food Sunday night, he became trapped. The internal latch had been malfunctioning before the weekend, police said.

The restaurateur didn't have his cellphone, but he tripped the burglar alarm in the cooler, hoping officers would come to free him.

Three officers and one sergeant arrived within five minutes of the call, but did not investigate after "they found the building to be dark and all doors secure."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/nashville-restaurant-owner-found-dead-cooler/story?id=16602832#.T-ELU5FGAX4