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Highlands Today

County Man's Death Could Be First Fay-Related Fatality In Florida

HE WAS CHECKING OUT HIS GENERATORS

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: August 20, 2008

LAKE PLACID - A Lake Placid man's death appears to be the only Tropical Storm Fay-related fatality in Highlands County and in Florida.

John Robert Graves, 54, of Lake Placid, was found unresponsive at 5:48 p.m. Saturday in his garage when his wife returned home, a spokeswoman at the Medical Examiner's Office reported on Wednesday.

Graves reportedly told his wife he was preparing their two generators for the storm's arrival.

His wife reportedly went out on an errand and returned to find her husband in the garage.

His death appears to be consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, the spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office said.

However, Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Nelson is waiting for the results of a toxicology exam before making a final determination.

Interim Director for Highlands County EMS Steve Coltharp said Wednesday that the victim was dead when EMS arrived on scene Saturday.

When asked about information regarding the death, sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle said the Highlands County Sheriff's Office was not commenting on the case as it remained an open death investigation.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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