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GT Photo bv John MorganColorado Springs firemen responded to gas explosion at motelResident apparently tried to commit suicide, authorities saidMotelWhenResidentDiesGasA local man was killed shortly after noon Friday in a gas explosion at his room at the El Rancho Motel, 3415 W. Colorado Ave , police said.El Paso County Coroner Raoul Urich said Romie Thomas Gutierrez, 39, apparently attempted suicide by turning on the gas in his motel room and the gas ignited. Colorado Springs firemen found Gutierrez’ body in the kitchen of his duplex unit.•’It represents suicide,” Urich said. He said he would perform an autopsy today, but did not expect it to change his assumption Three witnesses, Karen Nunley. VirginiaExplodesBaber and Maria Jones, who live at the motel, said they smelled an extremely strong odor of gas from approximately 50 feet away, then heard the explosion“We tried to get in the (Gutierrez’» door, but the flames forced us back,” Ms Baber said. “We think the door was locked when we finally got to it. because we couldn’t get in. We heard him screaming and moaning inside.”Gutierrez had lived at the motel for about a year, she said The unit next to Gutierrez’ was slightly damaged, but its occupant was not injured
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Sat, Aug 12, 1978
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WA, USA 04 Mar 2019
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