Man found dead in van last month died from carbon monoxide poisoning

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Jason Daniel Gee died alone in his van over the winter, and no one noticed him until April 9, when railroad workers reported a stench from the van where police found Gee's badly decomposed body.

Gee, 40, died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said Thursday, indicating the toxicology reports were recently completed. His manner of death was ruled accidental.

Gee appeared to be living in his white, windowless work van that was parked on an undeveloped road — Arletta Court — behind the Tractor Supply Co. on Indiana 38. The van also had a flatbed trailer hitched to the back of it.

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Norfolk & Southern employees called police about 3:20 p.m. April 9 after they smelled what they believed to be the odor of a dead body, Lafayette police said last month.

Police and the coroner's investigators found Gee dead in the cargo area of the van, which had a dresser and blankets, Costello said last month. Inside the van, investigators also found a small propane-fueled hotplate.

During last month's autopsy, the forensic pathologist did not find any trauma to Gee's body, leading officials to say that foul play was not suspect, Costello said last month.

Toxicology tests were required to determine how Gee died. Those tests showed high levels of carbon monoxide caused Gee's death, Costello said.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Man found dead in van last month died from carbon monoxide poisoning