Crime & Safety
Arizona Heat: Couple's Death Probed As Heat-Related
Deputies checked on the couple after getting a call of concern. They're among the more than two dozen possible heat related deaths this year
The death of a couple in their home in a home in an Apache Junction retirement community is being probed as heat-related. The couple - Keith and Connie Cox - were found in a sweltering room.
Deputies from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office found the fans on high but the air conditioner was not working.
They had been sent to the home in the Palmas Del Sol East retirement community after the office received a call of concern about the couple.
Find out what's happening in Across Arizonafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The couple was found on Friday, which was the sixth in a string of eight-straight days where the temperature passed 110 degrees. (Subscribe to local news alerts on Patch).
The coroner will determine the exact cause of death.
Find out what's happening in Across Arizonafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The couple are among the more than two dozen possible heat-related deaths since April being investigated by the county's Department of Public Health.
The county has recorded 27 possible deaths in that time.
There were 130 heat-related deaths last year and 85 the year before that.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.