Suspected burglar gets stuck in chimney, dies after homeowner lights fire

A 19-year-old suspected burglar who was stuck inside a chimney and later died after the homeowner started a fire, has been identified.

The Fresno County, California Sheriff’s Office reports that Cody Caldwell was the young man stuck inside the chimney, his cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation and thermal burns.

Here’s the official press release on what is believed to have happened:

-> Just before 3:00 pm Saturday, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home on the 16000 block of W. Gale Ave. in Huron.

A homeowner reported that when he lit a fire in his fireplace, he heard a man yell from inside the chimney. At this same time, the house began to fill with smoke. The homeowner worked to put the fire out as dispatchers sent firefighters with Cal Fire – Fresno County to the home. Approximately ten minutes after the initial call, the suspect appeared to still be breathing and moving inside the chimney. A short time later, firefighters dismantled the chimney in an attempt to rescue the suspect, however, it was discovered that he was dead.

A preliminary investigation shows that the suspect had climbed into the chimney overnight in an attempt to burglarize the home and became stuck. The homeowner came home today after being gone yesterday, so he did not know anyone was inside the chimney prior to lighting the fire. <-

“I’ve been a deputy for 17 years now and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Jake Jensen of the sheriff’s office.