Berkeley Police Find No Evidence Of Negligence in Monoxide Death
Chronicle staff report
Friday, December 3, 1999
©2000 San Francisco Chronicle

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/12/03/MN86778.DTL


BERKELEY -- Berkeley police concluded yesterday that there is no evidence that criminal negligence was involved in last week's apparent carbon monoxide poisoning death of a 17-year-old girl.

The decision by police to drop the criminal investigation came after a forensic specialist inspected the apartment where Seetha Vemireddy died and concluded that her death was not the result of negligence, according to Deputy City Manager Weldon Rucker.

Rucker said the forensic mechanical engineer from Failure Analysis Inc., hired by the city this week, will also investigate why carbon monoxide reached hazardous levels in 26 other apartments at 2020 Bancroft Way on November 24.

Berkeley building officials found metal flashing and insulation materials blocking the wall vent to Vemireddy's gas heater but have not yet determined how the debris got there.

©2000 San Francisco Chronicle Page A28