Authorities: Man dies from poisonous gas, wife dies from fumes after checking on him

A 44-year-old Texas oil company worker died after being overcome by poisonous gas at a pump house, and his 37-year-old wife also was killed by the fumes when she went to check on him.The Ector County Sheriff’s Office says Jacob and Natalee Dean died Saturday night after inhaling hydrogen sulfide gas at an Aghorn Energy pump house in Odessa. Deputies say the company dispatched the husband to check on the facility. When he didn’t return as expected, his wife tried to reach him by phone but got no answer.She drove with two of their children to the pump house and was overcome by the colorless, highly corrosive gas when she entered the building. The children were left in the car.According to KWES, the children only had slight exposure to the gas. Both were taken to the hospital and are now in the custody of grandparents.Ector County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Gary Duesler told the Odessa American that H2S gas can kill someone with one breath.“It takes like one gasp and that’s it,” Duesler said. “It’s horrible stuff.”A GoFundMe page has been created for the Dean children, ages 6, 9 and 18. "Jacob and Natalee were devoted loving parents and their children were their world. They both loved the Lord and led many people to believe in him also. They have touched so many lives in so many ways. Please pray for their children who are young and will need special help, understanding, love, and guidance both now and in the times to come," the page reads. More than $4,000 had been raised as of Wednesday morning. The Associated Press contributed to this report Related video below: Friends mourn father, daughter who died from carbon monoxide on houseboat

A 44-year-old Texas oil company worker died after being overcome by poisonous gas at a pump house, and his 37-year-old wife also was killed by the fumes when she went to check on him.



The Ector County Sheriff’s Office says Jacob and Natalee Dean died Saturday night after inhaling hydrogen sulfide gas at an Aghorn Energy pump house in Odessa. Deputies say the company dispatched the husband to check on the facility. When he didn’t return as expected, his wife tried to reach him by phone but got no answer.


She drove with two of their children to the pump house and was overcome by the colorless, highly corrosive gas when she entered the building. The children were left in the car.

According to KWES, the children only had slight exposure to the gas. Both were taken to the hospital and are now in the custody of grandparents.

Ector County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Gary Duesler told the Odessa American that H2S gas can kill someone with one breath.

“It takes like one gasp and that’s it,” Duesler said. “It’s horrible stuff.”

A GoFundMe page has been created for the Dean children, ages 6, 9 and 18.

"Jacob and Natalee were devoted loving parents and their children were their world. They both loved the Lord and led many people to believe in him also. They have touched so many lives in so many ways. Please pray for their children who are young and will need special help, understanding, love, and guidance both now and in the times to come," the page reads.

More than $4,000 had been raised as of Wednesday morning.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Related video below: Friends mourn father, daughter who died from carbon monoxide on houseboat

