Aspen Fatal Carbon Monoxide Case Advances

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A district judge in Aspen has decided there is probable cause for felony negligent-homicide charges against a subcontractor and former building inspector in connection with the carbon-monoxide poisoning deaths of a Denver family in 2008.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin confirmed the ruling Monday. It will allow a pretrial hearing to proceed Nov. 28 against 57-year-old Marlin Brown and 69-year-old Erik Peltonen.

Both have pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers didn't return calls seeking reaction.

Caroline and Parker Lofgren and their two children, 10-year-old Owen and 8-year-old Sophie, died while staying at an Aspen-area vacation house over Thanksgiving weekend. They won the visit in a fundraiser.

Investigators say a disconnected exhaust pipe in a utility closet leaked the odorless gas into the house, which didn't have a carbon monoxide detector.

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