Clues But No Relief In Boys' Fatal Poisoning

By LISA A. DAVIS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 11, 2007

>>> Carbon Monoxide Catches Its Victims Unaware
>>> Police Find Boys Dead, Mother Injured

NEW PORT RICHEY - Kirby Baudin looked as sad and weary as any parent would after losing two children in a single day.

He was headed toward a local bank Tuesday afternoon to open an account for donations to help send his sons back home, near New Orleans, for burial.

His wife, Barbara, was still in a hospital a day after she awoke to find Jules, 14, and Parker, 12, dead — one in her bedroom, the other in his — at their home in the Villas at Gulf Harbor.

In a preliminary finding, carbon monoxide poisoning was determined to be the cause of death after autopsies were performed Tuesday, said Darryl Garman, New Port Richey's assistant police chief.

“We are still taxed with determining if it's accidental or intentional … or some type of negligence,” he said, adding he had already explained to the boys' father that the investigation will continue.

“It's a sad case,” Garman said.

Kirby Baudin, 54, said Monday that he does not think what happened was intentional. And childhood friend Brad Heaverlo of Trinity said they had expected that carbon monoxide was the killer.

“We kind of believed in our heart from the very beginning that's what happened,” said Heaverlo, 52, who is acting as spokesman for the Baudin family.

The boys' mother made a frantic 911 call at 9:33 a.m. Monday and asked an operator to send help because her sons were “cold as ice” and didn't appear to be breathing.

When authorities arrived at 4605 Casswell Drive, they found the Baudins' minivan parked in their closed garage with the key in the ignition and the gas tank empty.

Paramedics pronounced the brothers dead shortly after their mother's 911 call.

The family's 4-month-old Shih Tzu, Bosley, was unconscious inside the home but was revived outside after being given oxygen.

His condition improved under veterinary care, but he was having difficulty walking and seeing.

Barbara Baudin, 52, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where she was being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, Heaverlo said.

A third son, Logan, 8, had slept over at a friend's house Sunday night, likely sparing him from his brothers' fate.

Kirby Baudin works in construction in New Orleans and was there when notified of his sons' deaths. He spent much of Monday trying to get to west Pasco County and was reunited with Logan that night.

“Thank God he spent the night out or he would've lost all three,” Heaverlo said.

Police waited until the father arrived before breaking the news to the surviving son with the help of a victim's advocate.

“We pretty much told him God had a bigger plan for his brothers and especially him because he's still here,” Heaverlo recalled.

Now, the Baudins plan to return home to Metairie, La., west of New Orleans, to rebuild a life there and bury the boys in a family plot, Heaverlo said.

The family lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and sought shelter with Heaverlo's family in Trinity. They later moved to their New Port Richey villa while Kirby Baudin continued working in New Orleans.

Heaverlo took his friend to Whitney National Bank at Mitchell Ranch Plaza on Tuesday afternoon to open an account for donations. “We're just trying to get the boys home,” Heaverlo said.

They're worried about the cost of shipping the bodies, funeral expenses and any other bills related to the tragedy.

Kirby Baudin made a brief statement to the media outside the bank, choking up and getting teary-eyed.

“Keep an eye on your kids,” he pleaded.

“That's all I can say. It's a sad day.”

News Channel 8 reporter Claudia DoCampo contributed to this report. Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

WHERE TO DONATE

WHAT: Kirby J. Baudin Account

WHERE: Any Whitney National Bank branch