Two teens killed by apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in Chandler

PHOENIX (AZFamily) – Two Valley teenagers were found dead Tuesday of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in a tragic accident in Chandler.

Romeo Alvarez’s family is in shock. They say Alvarez’s father died when he was a baby, and that motivated him to follow in his father’s shoes, keeping house and taking care of his mother and younger sisters.

Wearing his favorite superhero’s suit under his cap and gown, the 18-year-old embodied Spiderman when he spoke at Dobson High School’s graduation ceremony in May, giving a special shout-out to his mother.

“I always strive to be the best in everything I do and that’s because she always pushes me to give 130%,” he said during his graduation speech.

Alvarez’s family says he earned high grades in his class and earned his EMT certification in high school.

They say he got a scholarship to ASU and recently moved into a dorm.

He was well on his way to achieving more of his big dreams.

“Everything he did, he held himself to a high standard,” Eilian Castaneda said.

He says Alvarez was his cousin, but they grew up as brothers.

Although Castaneda is older, he looked up to Alvarez and admired his drive and ambition.

“Everyone he encountered left a very bright and inspiring impact,” Castaneda said.

Family members said Sunday that everyone celebrated Alvarez’s mother’s birthday together.

Later that evening he went to a friend’s house but never returned home.

When no one could contact him Monday, the family reported Alvarez missing to Chandler and ASU police.

“Oh yeah, it’s whatever. He’s 18. He’ll call you when he calls you. There was no concern whatsoever,” Castaneda said of his family’s interactions with police.

Cell phone location data helped the family track Alvarez to an apartment complex in Chandler, near Ray Road and Arizona Avenue.

And around 3 a.m. Tuesday, police found him and a 17-year-old friend there, dead in a garage.

The family believes they died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

“If they’d been in that garage for, you know, who knows how long, with the car on and hanging out listening to music, and the time goes by quickly, you know, and because they have no air, the windows might be open, who knows. I have no idea,” Castaneda said.

Many questions remain as detectives investigate what happened, but those close to Alvarez hope others learn never to drive a car while in a garage.

“Carbon monoxide can cost you in seconds, maybe minutes,” Castaneda said.

A The GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with Alvarez’s funeral expenses.

A memo sent to families at Chandler High School identifies 17-year-old Marcus Lee as the other person who died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chandler police confirmed his family also reported him missing on Monday before the teens were found on Tuesday.

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