LAYTON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A four year old Layton girl is dead and her baby sister is clinging to life. Police and military hazmat investigators believe rat poison could be to blame. The call came into 911 on Saturday to the family’s home at 1476 North 2425 West.
On Friday morning a technician with Bugman Pest Control was called to the Toone house. The company had treated for voles several months earlier with a pesticide called ramic brown, but the rodents were back. Ray Wilson, owner of Bugman Pest Control says, “He made the determination that the situation may require using a fumitoxin to get rid of the voles.”
By Friday night the family started to feel sick. Their carbon monoxide detector went off but firefighters found no trace of the chemical. On Saturday the family was hospitalized and by that night four year old Rebecca Toone died.
Through a statement the Toone family says, “We are greatly saddened by the loss of our four year old daughter Rebecca whom we love with all our hearts.”
Wilson says he’s never had a problem using fumitoxin. He says if it is used properly it should not cause problems for people. Wilson says, “All the information that I have gotten is that he did everything in accordance with the label and proper and correct procedures.”
Other local pest control companies say they’ve stayed away from fumitoxin because of the risks. A technician with Beeline Pest Control says, “It’s 55% active ingredient compared to some of these other things we use that are .005 active ingredient.”
An initial autopsy ruled out carbon monoxide as the cause of Rebecca’s death. Officials are waiting on further toxicology reports to determine - for certain - if the fumitoxin is to blame.
We checked with the Better Business Bureau of Utah and Bugman Pest Control has had no complaints in the last three years and have an A+ rating.
The family’s youngest child, a 15 month old girl, remains in critical condition at Primary Children’s Hospital.
