LAYTON -- Nathan Toone, the father of two little girls who died in the last week, said Thursday that faith is sustaining his family through the tragedy.
The deaths of Rebecca, 4, on Saturday, and Rachel, 15 months, on Tuesday may have been the result of exposure to phosphine gas produced as the result of rodent extermination done at the family's home.
"Many have questioned, 'How can they bear it? How can they go on?' " Toone said.
"We testify that the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is sufficient to overcome our deepest sorrows and heaviest burdens. When our strength is depleted, we are certain that He will shoulder the weight of our sadness."
Toone spoke to the media Thursday night at the Layton Fire Department headquarters.
To thank the community for its support, the family is inviting anyone who has been touched by the tragedy to attend services for the girls that Toone said will be "spiritually uplifting and life-affirming."
A viewing will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at LDS Layton West Stake Center, 1715 W. 1600 North, Layton. Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at the stake center.
Toone said his family is comforted by the belief Rebecca and Rachel are still together. Toone and his wife, Brenda, have two older children, a daughter, Cassidy, 9, and son, Braden, 7.
"Nothing touches our hearts more than to know those two sweet girls are able to share this time together and that no one in our family needs to be alone at this time," he said.
"No one here remaining needs to be alone, we are all here together as a family and those two girls that have passed on we know are together as well, waiting for us to return."
The family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which teaches that families reunite after death.
That faith will enable the family to find closure without long-term bitterness or anger, Nathan Toone said.
There aren't words to describe the panic and devastation they felt when the entire family fell ill and Becca died, Toone said, only to see the nightmare repeated with Rachel.
He described a tender moment when Rebecca offered without hesitation to share another strawberry with him even after he had hurt her feelings by teasingly biting all of her first strawberry.
"That was a perfect example of how loving and caring she was," Toone said, "and Rachel was just as happy and loving."
In the emergency room at Primary Children's Medical Center, everyone seemed to be touched by her, he said.
"She had a certain spirit, a certain personality about her that was contagious.
"She would inspire others to feel and want to be better."
Logan Toone, the girls' uncle and family spokesman, said the outpouring of love and kindness from those they know as well as from complete strangers has been overwhelming.
"Our perception of humanity has so much improved from this," he said.
He said Rebecca, who was born Sept. 14, 2005, was "so sweet and loving. She was loved by everyone, and her friends thought she was the greatest thing that ever happened."
She liked to make cards and write notes and enjoyed singing songs with her father. Her favorite color was yellow, and she had taught herself to read and write.
Logan Toone said he rarely saw Rachel, who was born, Oct. 20, 2008, without "that big grin you see on the picture that was released. She lived a happy life and brought joy to anyone she came in contact with."
Rachel enjoyed rock music, going for car rides, ducks and baby dolls.
Both girls were very close to their mother. The older children included the two girls in their activities. The girls are also survived by grandparents, uncles, aunts and many cousins.
He said the extended family has pulled together through this experience.
"Collectively, we're feeling sadness and heartbreak through the loss of these two sweet little girls.
"But we've come together more as a family, have shown more love to each other and have helped each other more than before."
Logan Toone said his brother and sister-in-law are holding on to their religious belief that they will see their daughters again.
"They have hope and comfort in this."
The family is not making any comment at this time concerning the ongoing investigations under way by several agencies.
Updated 12:09 a.m.
Not the first tragedy / EPA issued warning after death of S. Dakota girl in 2001
LAYTON -- At least two other children have died in the U.S. since 2001 by inhaling phosphine gas in their homes, the same type of pesticide poisoning that is suspected in the deaths of two Layton sisters this week.
In a case similar to the Layton incident, a 2-year-old Lubbock, Texas, girl died after she and four adults were sickened by toxic fumes in July 2007 after the family used a restricted-use fumigant under the trade name Phostoxin to kill cockroaches in the home.
According to a report by the North Dakota State University Extension Service, the family believed it had become sickened by carbon monoxide and called 911. Hazardous material crews found the pellets in the home and family members were taken to a hospital, where the girl later died.
In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a cautionary warning following the death of a South Dakota girl after a poison intended to kill prairie dogs was applied too close to her home.
"We want people to know that the phosphine gas produced when aluminum phosphide is used to kill rodents can sicken humans, too," EPA enforcement specialist Tim Osag said at the time on the agency's Web site.
Layton authorities believe phosphine gas produced as the result of rodent extermination done at the family's home Friday caused the deaths of sisters Rachel Toone, 15 months, and Rebecca Toone, 4.
On Wednesday, extended family members and neighbors helped prepare the home for the family's return.
Gwen Haskett, a neighbor, said she is praying for the family. She said the mother of the two girls is "the perfect mom. She's just awesome."
Meanwhile, police, state officials and Environmental Protection Agency officials are continuing the investigation.
Police Lt. Quinn Moyes said his office is waiting for reports from several agencies before deciding whether and where to file any criminal charges that may result from the case.
If police choose to file a felony charge, the case will go to the Davis County Attorney's Office. If police believe a misdemeanor is warranted, then the case will go to the Layton City Attorney's Office.
One of the key reports will be the toxicology tests conducted by the medical examiner's office Monday at Rebecca's autopsy, Moyes said. Those results are expected in six to eight weeks.
Moyes said authorities may not have to wait for the toxicology tests, depending on the conclusions of reports from other agencies.
"But it is still too early to tell when and if we will file charges," Moyes said.
In the Texas case, authorities considered filing charges against the man who provided the family with the industrial-strength pesticide that isn't available to residential consumers, but couldn't immediately locate him, according to articles in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper.
Larry Lewis, spokesman with Utah's Department of Agriculture, said Bugman Pest and Lawn Inc., the company that did the extermination work on the Toone yard, has had a few minor problems.
The department issued the Bountiful company a letter of warning in 2008 because of paperwork not completed correctly. In 2009 the company was cited for applying a product in an area where it was not approved for use, Lewis said.
"These were minor instances," Lewis said.
Lewis said the department reviews 300 cases a year involving pesticides and takes action, either through a letter of warning or issuing a citation, on 90 to 100 cases.
Lewis said the pesticide that was used on the Toone lawn is "used for farms or grain storage. It is not typically used in residential areas."
Clark Burgess, pesticide program manager with the state's Department of Agriculture, said he has heard of the South Dakota case.
"This is a tragedy, but it should not have happened," Burgess said about the deaths of the Layton sisters.
Statement Wednesday from the Nathan and Brenda Toone Family
“In the aftermath of the passing of our two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our community. We applaud the hard work of those investigating this tragedy and do not wish to make any comment regarding their findings while they continue their investigation. We have issued two official statements previous to this one; those are the only official communications from our family to date. We wish to spend the coming days preparing to lay our sweet girls to rest and invite all friends and others who have been touched by our situation to attend funeral services. Those wishing to express condolences may do so at www.russonbrothersmortuary.com.
Updated 11:46 p.m.
Charges possible in deaths / 15-month-old sister of Layton toddler falls victim to likely pesticide misuse
LAYTON -- Rachel Toone, the 15-month-old sister of a 4-year-old Layton girl who died Saturday, died Tuesday.
Authorities believe the deaths of the two girls were probably caused by phosphine gas produced as the result of rodent extermination work performed at the family's home Friday.
Police said Tuesday criminal charges may be possible in the case.
"It's too early to tell if we're going to file criminal charges, but I can tell you the investigation is active and ongoing," said Layton Police Lt. Quinn Moyes.
Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings said police have contacted his office for consultation, "but we do not have enough information to indicate where this will go."
Rachel became ill Sunday, experiencing symptoms the family said were similar to Rebecca's. According to Utah Poison Control, phosphine poisoning is rare and gradually affects the brain, lungs, heart and liver.
The Toone family released a statement Tuesday through Primary Children's Medical Center, where Rachel was treated before her death.
"Today our sweet baby daughter, Rachel Toone, passed away despite heroic efforts to save her life following heart failure early Monday morning. We are heartbroken as we and our two older children mourn Rachel's passing and that of her sister Rebecca who died Saturday, February 6th. Their funeral will be held in the next few days, and we request the opportunity to quietly celebrate their lives with our friends and family at that time."
The family thanked the community for "the outpouring of kindness we have felt and for the sustaining prayers offered in our behalf."
In an earlier statement about Rebecca's death, the family wrote, "We have been sustained by the love of our family, friends and neighbors, and by our faith and understanding of our purpose in this life and the world to come. ... We are sincerely grateful for the efforts of police, firefighters and health care professionals who have served our family with kindness and tenderness."
Contributions to assist the family may be made to the Rebecca and Rachel Toone Trust Fund at any office of Wells Fargo Bank.
The Davis County Health Department has determined there is no more phosphine gas inside the family's home.
"We are waiting to hear if the family wants to move back in before we take down the closed sign," said Bob Ballew, Davis County health department spokesman.
Layton Fire Chief Kevin Ward was at the Toone home early Tuesday morning along with the Davis County Health Department and National Guard 85th Civil Support Team, who were called to help monitor the levels of phosphine gas in the home.
As of Tuesday morning, the level of the gas inside the home was zero, Ward said.
Lt. Col. Tyler Smith with the National Guard 85th Civil Support Team said his crew found remnants of the tablets the exterminator buried about six inches in the ground in burrows along the driveway and by the porch. They were about three feet away from the garage and seven feet from the front steps.
Pestcon Systems Inc. manufactures Fumitoxin aluminum phosphide tables. On page 6 of the Fumitoxin manual on the company Web site, it says in capital letters: "This product must not be applied into a burrow system that is within 15 feet of a building that is, or may be occupied by humans, and/or animals, especially residences."
It also says not to treat those burrows if there is any way the gas can move through pipes or conduits into a building.
The Fumitoxin tablets are the size of an aspirin. When they come into contact with moisture in the soil, Smith said, the tablets fizz and dissolve -- similar to when an Alka-Seltzer tablet is dropped into water -- creating phosphine gas, which kills the rodents.
According to an invoice the exterminator gave the family, Smith said, about 1.5 pounds of the Fumitoxin aluminum phosphide pellets were used. His crews excavated the lawn to find the remaining pellets.
Smith said the exterminator also showed crews the can that had contained 3 pounds of the material and about half the pellets were gone.
Ward said crews got several readings of zero for the phosphine gas on Monday after ventilating the house for several hours. The hazmat crews sealed the home, turned on the furnace and left it overnight to see if the readings would still come out zero in the morning, which they did.
The family hired Bugman Pest and Lawn Inc., of Bountiful, to exterminate rodents in their lawn, officials said.
Calls made to Raymond Wilson, president of Bugman Pest and Lawn Inc., were not immediately returned.
The exterminator, who is licensed to handle the chemical aluminum phosphide, buried several pellets in front of and behind the house Friday, Ward said. Crews dug up the pellets and saturated the ground with water to rid the area of the chemical.
Updated 11:52 p.m.
15-month-old Rachel Toone dies
SALT LAKE CITY -- Fifteen-month old Rachel Toone died Tuesday at Primary Children's Medical Center after being hospitalized by what may have been poisoning caused by rodent extermination efforts at her Layton home.
Her sister, 4-year-old Rebecca, died late Saturday.
The Toone family issued a statement Tuesday night following Rachel's death:
"Today our sweet baby daughter, Rachel Toone, passed away despite heroic efforts to save her life following heart failure early Monday morning.
"We are heartbroken as we and our two older children mourn Rachel's passing and that of her sister Rebecca who died Saturday, February 6th. Their funeral will be held in the next few days, and we request the opportunity to quietly celebrate their lives with our friends and family at that time. We appreciate the talented healthcare professionals at Davis Hospital and Primary Children's Medical Center who cared capably and lovingly for our beautiful daughters and for us. We also want to thank so many community members for the outpouring of kindness we have felt and for the sustaining prayers offered in our behalf."
Contributions to assist the family may be made to the Rebecca and Rachel Toone Trust Fund at any office of Wells Fargo Bank.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident at the family's house and said Tuesday it is possible charges may be filed in the death of the chlidren.
Updated 7:43 p.m.
Poisoning aftermath: Crews continue to monitor home for fumes; Layton toddler still in critical condition
SLIDESHOW: See more pictures from the cleanup
LAYTON — The 15-month-old girl who became ill Sunday after her 4-year-old sister died Saturday is still in critical condition.
Rachel Toone is in the intensive care unit at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
Bonnie Midget, spokeswoman for the hospital, issued a statement by the family.
“We are greatly saddened by the passing of our 4-year-old daughter Rebecca Toone. Our 15-month-old daughter Rachel is being treated at Primary Children’s Hospital with serious complications related to symptoms similar to Rebecca’s. We love these girls and our two older children with all our hearts,” the statement said.
Layton Fire Chief Kevin Ward was at the Toone’s home early Tuesday morning along with the Davis County Health Department and National Guard 85th Civil Support Team, who were called to help monitor the levels of phosphine gas inside the home.
As of Tuesday morning the levels of the gas inside the home were zero, Ward said.
Ward said they got several readings of zero on Monday after ventilating the house for several hours. The hazmat crews sealed the home, turned on the furnace and left it overnight to see if the readings would still come out zero in the morning, which they did.
It is suspected that phosphine gas may have caused the two girls to become ill, officials said.
The family hired Bugman Pest and Lawn Inc., of Bountiful, to exterminate rodents that had become a problem in their lawn, officials said.
The exterminator, who is licensed to handle the chemical aluminum phosphide, buried several pellets in front of the house and behind the house on Friday, Ward said.
Crews dug up the pellets and saturated the ground with water to rid the area of the chemical.
Ward said firefighters were called to the house Friday when a carbon monoxide alarm went off.
“We go to hundreds of those types of calls every year,” Ward said.
No one was sick at the home on Friday, Ward said.
“If they were we would have been suspicious then,” Ward said.
The family did not show signs of being ill until Saturday.
The family also wrote, “We have been sustained by the love of our family, friends and neighbors, and by our faith and understanding of our purpose in this life and the world to come. While much is yet to be understood, we respectfully ask for the privacy to mourn our loss and see Rachel’s care and some measure of peace for ourselves and our children.
“We are sincerely grateful for the efforts of police, firefighters and healthcare professionals who have served our family with kindness and tenderness. Contributions to assist the family may be made to a trust fund in the name of Rebecca Toone at any office of Wells Fargo Bank.
“No other statements will be provided at this time.”
Updated 2/9/2010 10:39 a.m.
Poisoning aftermath: Layton cleans home after toddler's death from rat poison fumes; 15-month-old sister still hospitalized
By Loretta Park (Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau)
LAYTON -- Hazmat crews spent Monday monitoring the levels of phosphine gas inside the Toone family home.
Rebecca Toone, 4, died late Saturday night after being exposed to the gas, and her 15-month-old sister, Rachel, is in critical condition at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, said Layton Police Lt. Quinn Moyes.
How the pesticide poison -- used to kill rats, moles and other rodents -- made its way inside the house may remain a mystery, said Lt. Col. Tyler Smith with the National Guard 85th Civil Support Team.
Investigators do not know if the poisonous gas found its way into the house through a crack in the foundation, a pipe or cold-air vent.
Smith's unit joined Layton Fire Department and Layton Police Department on Monday to clear the area of the pesticide and to investigate what happened near 1500 N. 2525 West.
"We do know the highest level in the house was 30 parts per million," Smith said. "With the air circulation, it varies, but with long periods of exposure, it doesn't matter if it was 10 parts per million or 30 parts per million, continued exposure is going to cause some problems."
Hazmat on scene
Hazmat crews dug out pellets buried in burrows in the front and back of the house. They then saturated the ground with water to rid the area of the chemical aluminum phosphide, Smith said.
They also ran fans, opening doors and cupboards to clear the air in the house of phosphine, the poisonous gas created from aluminum phosphide when it mixes with moisture.
Investigators also cannot say if the children's weight may have played a part in the poisoning or if the room they may have been in had higher amounts of the poison than other parts of the house.
The family called 911 on Friday when a carbon monoxide alarm went off, said Layton Fire Chief Kevin Ward. Firefighters found low levels of carbon monoxide in the house, called Questar Gas and then ventilated the home.
On Saturday, the mother took her daughter Rebecca to a pediatric clinic. Rebecca was transported to Davis Hospital and Medical Center, where she later died, Ward said.
An autopsy has been completed on Rebecca, but it will take six to eight weeks before police receive a toxicology report, Moyes said.
Two other children, ages 10 and 14, were treated and released Saturday from Davis Hospital after being transported there by ambulance, Moyes said. The mother of the family was the only one who did not show symptoms of poisoning.
Police are not releasing the names of the parents or the older children at this time, Moyes said. No homes in the area were evacuated.
Two policemen, five firefighters and a neighbor who went inside the home Friday and Saturday after 911 was called are having their blood tested for toxic levels of phosphine, Moyes said.
Moyes said the Davis County extermination company is licensed, bonded and insured. The exterminator has been licensed for the past two years to handle the chemical.
The company, which has been reported as Bugman Pest and Lawn Inc., of Bountiful, has cooperated in the investigation, he said.
Dr. Barbara Insley Crouch, director of Utah Poison Control, said phosphine poisoning is rare. Also, there is no antidote for the poison.
All that can be done for a person who is poisoned is to receive supportive care, she said.
"If they are having difficulty breathing, they are put on life support," Crouch said.
She said the poison affects the brain, lungs, heart and liver, but it does it gradually.
__________________________
What you need to know
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, phosphine gas irritates mucous membranes -- especially those of the deep lungs and upper airways. Because phosphine gas releases highly acidic forms of phosphorus when it reaches deep lung tissues, it tends to cause fluid in the lungs. Once absorbed into the body, phosphine can damage cell membranes and enzymes important for respiration and metabolism.
Intermittent, low concentrations of phosphine gas (probably 0.08 to 0.3 parts per million) have been associated with mild headaches. Higher intermittent concentrations (0.4 to 35 ppm) have been linked to the following symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting; tightness of the chest; breathlessness; soreness or pain in the chest; palpitations; headache; dizziness and staggering; and skin irritation or burns.
For information about poison, call Utah Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.
Updated 11:15 p.m.
Poisoned child's sibling also in hospital
LAYTON — A 15-month-old sibling, Rachel Toone, of the 4-year-old Layton girl who died late Saturday is in the intensive care unit at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
Layton Fire Chief Kevin Ward said Monday Rachel was one of three from the family taken to a local hospital by ambulance Saturday after medical crews arrived at the house.
Rebecca Toone may have died from gas from a pesticide intended to kill rats. She was found unconscious Saturday by her family and was transported to Davis Hospital, where she died.
The 85th Civil Support National Guard unit, Layton Fire Department and Layton Police arrived Monday to investigate how the poisonous gas entered the home and to monitor the gas levels. Also, two areas near the home may be evacuated.
Ward said he is concerned for the safety of the firefighters who responded to the home Friday after a carbon monoxide detector went off as well as the emergency crews and police officers who responded Saturday. They were inside the home before officials determined it was a pesticide, not carbon monoxide, that made the family ill. Officials are monitoring at least seven people who were exposed to the pesticide gas.
Symptoms of aluminum phosphate poisoning can appear anywhere from several hours to 72 hours after exposure.
4-year-old toddler dies / Officials suspect pesticide in Layton girl's death
LAYTON -- Neighbors said they were shocked Sunday to learn of the death of a 4-year-old Layton girl late Saturday.
Safety officials believe gas from a pesticide may be responsible for Rebecca Toone's death.
Meanwhile, officials have sealed off the home on the 1400 North block of 2425 West until the investigation is complete.
"It's suspected at this time it's phosphine gas," said Layton City Fire Battalion Chief Lonnie Adams.
"We're not 100 percent sure."
Adams said the family reported having their home treated recently by an exterminator, who placed pellets outside the home.
He believes gas from the pellets could have seeped inside the home.
"This is a pellet that's put out in the yard," Adams said. "As it gets moisture to it, phosphine gas is released."
He said as he researched the theory Sunday, he found deaths that were believed to have been caused by the gas.
"We've actually been able to find a few cases around the country where people have died from it," he said.
But in 29 years of firefighting, Adams said, he'd never run across such an event himself.
"I haven't heard it even reported in the news," he said. "Unless you did bring in a (hazmat) team ... you might not know what you had. It just might be a mysterious death. It might have happened and went undiagnosed."
Emergency workers may learn today if that's why the girl died, Adams said.
"The National Guard 85th Civil Support team came out and were doing testing," Adams said.
"They didn't have the tip for the detector for phosphine," he said, explaining that they needed to send away for the device.
The hazmat crew will return today with the tip to do a more thorough job.
Adams said officials also will need the girl's toxicology report back to rule out death from other sources.
Justin and Jerri Lynn Smith, who live kittie- cornered from the Toone family in a cul-de-sac, said Sunday that neighbors were fasting and praying for the girl's family.
"They are the nicest people," said Jerri Lynn.
"She is the cleanest person I know," she said of the girl's mother.
Jerri Lynn said the Toones frequently attend neighborhood barbecues and once sent her family food when they could not be there.
The Smiths said they were informed of the tragedy through a calling tree. They also were asked during a ward meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to stay away from the home for a few days and to keep the family in their prayers.
Adams said crews found traces of phosphine gas coming from a rodent fumigant just outside the home that was seeping into the house.
Police say the Toone family called 911 when their carbon monoxide alarm went off Friday afternoon.
Fire crews came to the home to investigate, Adams said. After finding only low levels of the gas in the basement and notifying Questar Gas, they ventilated the house.
Neighbors also said the entire family had been ill Saturday.
Adams said rescue workers were dispatched to a pediatric clinic where the girl's parents had taken her. She was transported to the Davis Hospital & Medical Center, where she later died.
The Smiths said they saw a number of public safety vehicles and Questar Gas vehicles when they left for church Sunday morning and then they were questioned by police as to where they were headed when they returned home.
The neighbors said they felt safe in returning home.
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