A husband and wife who died after their mobile home in Clinton exploded last week committed suicide, according to the office of the chief medical examiner, and police said both were suffering from serious medical and health issues.
Police started to receive several calls about a loud explosion around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 and officers started trying to locate the source. They a call came in about a fire at the Evergreen Park Complex on Balsam Place.
Leo Hinkley, 64, and his 61-year-old wife, Candace Hinkley, were found surrounded by fire and crews pulled them from the burning wreckage.
Lifestar responded and flew the Hinkleys to Bridgeport Hospital. On Friday police announced that Leo Hinkley had died. His wife Candace Hinkley died Saturday.
The office of the chief medical examiner determined that Leo Hinkley died of thermal burns of body surfaces and Candace Hinkley died of complications of thermal injuries.
Police said the husband and wife both suffered from serious health issued before the explosion and had become depressed.
Police said Candace Hinkley made a statement to Clinton Police that they had previously planned to kill themselves together and that her husband had been maipulating the gas fireplace a day earlier in an attempt to asphyxiate the couple.
According to the fire marshal's office, there were adjustments to the propane lines and something in the residence created a spark, which ignited the propane and caused the explosion.
The state and local fire marshal are still investigating.
