KOSCIUSKO CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police say an issue with a car’s exhaust system may have caused the deaths of three teenagers in Kosciusko County.
Troopers responded to a call reporting the teens had been found unresponsive in a car just after Sunday, according to a release from Indiana State Police.
Just after 3 p.m., they were found in that car on the property of 10852 West 900 North, near Etna Green.
Troopers said they found a blue 2008 Ford with an unresponsive male in the driver’s seat, identified as 18-year-old Robert Bontrager from Rome City. According to the release, troopers also found two 16-year-olds in the back seat, identified as Karen Miller and Nathan Yoder, both from Topeka in LaGrange County.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Indiana State Police say that preliminary indicators point towards carbon monoxide poisoning but toxicology results are pending.
This investigation is ongoing.
Indiana State Police released the following:
Yesterday, October 30, 2022, Indiana State Troopers responded to a call of three teenagers found unresponsive in a car on the property of 10852 West 900 North near Etna Green just after 3:00 p.m.
Trooper Aaron Price arrived and found a blue 2008 Ford with an unresponsive male identified as Robert Bontrager 18, of Rome City, IN in the driver’s seat. Karen Miller, 16 of Topeka, IN and Nathan Yoder, 16, of Topeka, IN were both in the back seat and unresponsive. All three teenagers were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office oversaw autopsies today that were performed at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Ft. Wayne, IN. Preliminary indicators point towards carbon monoxide poisoning but toxicology results are pending.
This investigation is ongoing. The families of Bontrager, Miller, and Yoder have been notified.
