March 19, 2024

UPDATE: Creston family died from inhaling toxic gas

After conducting autopsies on the Sharp family of Creston, Mexican authorities have released results of those autopsies.

According to the Associated Press, autopsy results revealed the Sharp family died from inhaling toxic gas at the condo the family rented in Mexico.

Kevin Sharp, 41; Amy Sharp, 38; Sterling Sharp, 12; and Adrianna Sharp, 7, traveled to Tulum, Mexico last week for a family vacation. When they did not return to St. Louis on Wednesday as planned and still had not been heard from by Thursday night, relatives reported the Sharp family missing to the Creston Police Department.

Creston Police and the U.S. State Department contacted authorities in Mexico for assistance in the case.

The Sharp family was found dead in their rented condo Friday.

According to the Associated Press, the prosecutors' office in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo said the "cause of death was asphyxiation from inhaling toxic gases." The report said the type of gas hadn't yet been determined, but added that "any violent act or suicide has been discounted."

The Associated Press also reported that photographs released by the office showed investigators in anti-contamination suits and firefighters with air tanks examining gas connections to a stove in the condo in Tulum.

A candelight vigil was held in the family's memory Saturday night at Adams County Speedway in Corning, where Kevin was a popular race car driver. More than 300 people attended Saturday's vigil.

A candlelight vigil is also planned for 7 p.m. Sunday in Creston at VFW Field on Highway 34.