Family members are speaking out after two Illinois high school friends died from an apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in a tragic incident early Sunday morning. The victims, 16-year-old Litzy Flores and 17-year-old Yeferson A. Flores Ramos, were found unresponsive in a car in Hoffman Estates, a suburb of Chicago.
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According to NBC Chicago, emergency crews were called to the 200 block of East Berkley Lane at around 12:37 a.m. on March 2. Responders discovered the teens inside the vehicle and had to break into the car to remove them. Despite efforts to save their lives, both were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victims as Litzy Flores and Yeferson A. Flores Ramos. The teens were close friends, both students at James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates.
Litzy was a sophomore, and Yeferson a senior, planning to join the U.S. Army after graduation. He had recently represented his home country of Honduras at the school's International Fair.
School principal Julie Nowak described both students as "beloved by their teachers and classmates." She expressed deep sorrow for the loss, stating that it was "a terrible loss for the entire Conant Community."
Support services, including counselors, were made available to students on March 3 to help them cope with the tragedy.
High School Friends Remembered
Family members have shared emotional tributes to the victims. Maria Del Carmen, Yeferson's mother, said she can vividly remember every moment of his life, even the times he would return home from school as a child.
His sister, Kenzi, expressed heartbreak over his death, saying, "I cannot do this. My heart is broken in pieces."
She also raised questions about the circumstances of his death, stating that his wallet had been found at a different location, away from the scene where his body was discovered.
In response to the tragedy, two GoFundMe campaigns have been launched to help with funeral expenses for both victims. Yeferson's family is working to have his body returned to Honduras for burial.
Authorities believe the deaths were accidental, but the investigation is still ongoing, multiple news outlets reported. While the exact cause of the carbon monoxide poisoning is yet to be confirmed, the deaths have left the local community in shock and grief. As the investigation continues, the school and families of the victims are focused on supporting one another during this difficult time.
I heard the cops are still searching for the donut.