Mother, teen son found dead in Orleans County home after propane gas leak

A 38-year-old woman and her teenage son were found dead in their Town of Kendall home in Orleans County on Wednesday night.

The Orleans County Sheriff's Office identifies the woman and her son as Joan C. Gilman and Richard J. Gilman, Jr., age 14. The sheriff's office reports a 911 call was placed at 7:27 p.m. Wednesday reporting a propane gas leak at the family's Center Road residence in Kendall. Firefighters from the Kendall Fire Department were dispatched to the home.

Firefighters searched the house and found the bodies of Joan and Richard Gilman in an upstairs bedroom. It's unclear how long the Gilmans had been deceased when firefighters arrived.

After further investigation, the sheriff's office determined electricity had been turned off in the Center Road duplex several days ago, and the family had been operating a propane-powered generator since then, along with several propane-powered appliances. At this time, it's unclear which of the devices may have caused the leak.

Both victims were taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office as part of the investigation. The sheriff's office is working with the Kendall Fire Department, Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit and fire and code enforcement experts to determine what transpired leading up to the deaths of the two victims.