2 Die in Empty Refrigerator
- Share via
Two children were found Saturday suffocated inside an unused refrigerator that had been placed in the front yard of a house on 42nd Street, police reported.
The San Diego County coroner’s office identified them as 7-year-old Ronald Edward Johnson Jr. of 3210 Central Ave. and 4-year-old Jesse Ray Lyons of 3314 Central Ave.
The two children apparently removed tape that had been put over the door of the refrigerator, which was leaning on its side against a fence, climbed inside and were trapped when the door slammed behind them, the coroner’s office reported.
The mother of Lyons had noticed her son missing about 11 a.m. Saturday and notified police about 1 p.m. Johnson’s mother called police about 5 p.m. because of similar worries, shortly before the two boys were discovered by a nearby resident who was walking his dog.
The resident was drawn to the refrigerator by the sound of a cat crying inside. When he opened the door, he found the two boys and the cat, which was still alive.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
