FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a suspected burglar who became stuck in the chimney of a central California home died after the homeowner unknowingly lit a fire in the fireplace.
A Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesman said an autopsy concluded that Cody Caldwell, 19, died of smoke inhalation and burns.
Authorities said a homeowner in the rural town of Huron heard someone scream after lighting a fire in his fireplace and alerted authorities. When the homeowner realized a person was stuck in the chimney, he extinguished the fire.
Authorities said Caldwell was responsive when firefighters smashed the chimney to get him out, but died later.
- Posted December 14, 2015
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Suspected burglar dies in chimney after fire is lit

headlines Macomb
- Law school appoints new dean
- Attorneys general secure temporary restraining order protecting public health grant cuts for Michigan
- Supreme Court denies bypass attempt from Senate in fight with House over presenting bills
- Sixth Circuit Court reverses second habeas petition of inmate
- Treasury urges taxpayers to be alert and aware for scammers
headlines National
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Judge accused of using ‘game or jail’ tactic, asserting abuse victims get ‘Super Bowl’ neurochemicals
- Prosecutor gets suspension for invading jury’s ‘inner sanctum’
- Lateral hiring bounced back in 2024, especially for associates in BigLaw, new NALP report says
- Refugee ban can’t be enforced against those who received conditional approval, 9th Circuit says
- ABA, more than 50 bar associations condemn ‘government actions that seek to twist the scales of justice’