Heater was over 1,000 degrees in home where couple died, report says

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - An investigation into the deaths of an elderly South Carolina couple continues, as a new report shows a heater in their home measured over 1,000 degrees.

The Spartanburg County coroner said the bodies of 84-year-old Joan Littlejohn and 82-year-old Glennwood Fowler were found in a home on Woodview Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, WHNS reports.

First responders noted “extremely high heat” in the home. According to a report from the Spartanburg Police Department, a medic tried to take the temperatures of the bodies, but his device would only register up to 106 degrees.

“Both victims exceeded 106 degrees,” the report states.

Firefighters on scene said the interior of the home exceeded 120 degrees after it had been open to the cold weather for nearly half an hour.

Firefighters thought a heater in the basement was on fire. They determined it was not physically on fire, and they deactivated it, saying the heater itself measured 1,000 degrees.

Autopsies were performed on the victims Monday morning, but the coroner said more testing is needed to determine their causes of death.

The coroner said investigators do not believe foul play is involved, but they are concerned with why the temperature in the home was so high.

According to the report, family members said the home had not been heating properly, and they “fiddled” with the wiring near the pilot light.

“We ask you keep the families of Ms. Littlejohn and Mr. Fowler in your thoughts and prayers during their time of loss and grief,” said coroner Rusty Clevenger.

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