A suspected burglar who attempted to enter a home through the chimney died after the homeowner lit a fire, oblivious that there was a man inside.
19-year-old Cody Caldwell climbed into the chimney of the house in Huron, California, during the night while the homeowner was away. According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office the young man had become stuck.
The homeowner lit a fire in his fireplace on Saturday afternoon, completely unaware that there was a man trapped inside. He soon heard a man yelling inside the chimney and smoke began to fill his home.
The homeowner tried to extinguish the flames. Firefighters arrived on scene and dismantled the chimney. The suspect was found dead inside.
The cause of his death was as a result of smoke inhalation and burns, according to the coroner’s report.