RIVERTON — Local police are investigating a possible malfunctioning water heater as the source of a toxic carbon monoxide leak suspected of killing two women and a toddler found deceased in a home early Thursday.
The women were Khristy Kay (McKenney) Fritz, 62, and her daughter Amber Marie Fritz, 33. Amber's son, 3-year-old Asher James Fritz, also was found dead in the home, Amber's sister-in-law Jessica Lee Fritz confirmed Friday to Cowboy State Daily.
When one of the two women in the home, on the 900 block of East Adams Avenue in Riverton, did not show up for work as expected, a coworker went to the house looking for her Thursday morning, but no one answered the door, Riverton Police Chief Eric Hurtado told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
The person smelled a gas odor coming from the house and called 911.
Once on scene, Riverton Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jake Blumenshine and two RPD officers kicked in the front door, Blumenshine told Cowboy State Daily in his own Friday interview.
An employee from the gas company was also on hand, and his monitor registered a concentration of 1,200 parts per million (ppm) carbon monoxide at the door — a highly toxic density, said Blumenshine.
He said a person can work in 10 ppm concentration for about eight hours.
“We gotta get way from this thing,” Blumenshine said he told the responders.
His initial attack team was on scene with an engine, and Blumenshine sent the team in with oxygen packs. They confirmed there were three deceased people inside plus six dead pets: cats and dogs.
Inside the house, the carbon monoxide monitor registered 2,000 ppm, the highest the police chief has ever encountered. Before that, he’d been on scenes with as many as 500 or 600 ppm, he said.
Blumenshine confirmed that the three people appeared to have been deceased before responders’ first attempt to go inside, and that momentary delay did not make the difference between life and death for them.
Blumenshine, who sounded deeply saddened at the tragedy, extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.
Both Blumenshine and Hurtado said they’re planning a public awareness campaign for early next week about ways to prevent or detect carbon monoxide leaks and check new heating elements.
Amber Marie Fritz, left, from left, her mother Khristy Kay (McKenney) Fritz, and Amber's 3-year-old son Asher James Fritz. They were found deceased in their Riverton home Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, which was filled with carbon monoxide, suspected to have leaked into their home via a water heater. (Courtesy Jessica Lee Fritz) 
Left, Khristy Kay (McKenney) Fritz. Right, Asher James Fritx, 3, and his mother Amber Marie Fritz. They were found deceased in their Riverton home Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, which was filled with carbon monoxide, suspected to have leaked into their home via a water heater. (Courtesy Jessica Lee Fritz) 
Asher James Fritz, 3. (Courtesy Jessica Lee Fritz)
This Family
Amber Fritz was Khristy's youngest daughter and the little sister to Andrew Fritz, 34, and Daniel Fritz, 35.
Khristy Fritz enjoyed her job as a bus aide and really enjoyed the kids who rode the bus, Jessica Lee Fritz told Cowboy State Daily on Friday, soon after walking through the family's house.
Jessica Lee said she's still struggling to process that the family is gone.
"(Khristy) devoted all her spare time to her grandson, Asher," said Jessica Lee. "He was literally her pride and joy and they adored each other."
Amber Fritz worked at local restaurant, the Trailhead, for her entire adult life and never wanted to leave because she loved her coworkers.
"She just enjoyed her job," said Jessica Lee, adding that Amber collected "pretty" books. But the true love of her life was her son Asher. She loved being a mom and was thrilled that she was able to take him to Disneyland the week before Halloween.
"Amber loved every holiday, but Halloween was one of her favorites because of all the dressing up and fun," said Jessica Lee.
Asher was a high-energy 3-year-old who loved Spider-Man and all things Harry Potter and Batman, she said, adding, "Amber was really amused and proud that he was such a kamikaze kid."
At Disneyland last week, he wanted to go on all the big rides and treasured the experience, Jessica Lee said.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
