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Woman Believes Mold Killed Her Two Year Old Son Save Email Print
Colorado Springs
Posted: 9:03 PM Jan 20, 2008
Last Updated: 5:31 AM Jan 21, 2008
Reporter: Rosie Barresi
Email Address: rbarresi@kktv11news.com

A | A | A

The El Paso County Coroner still doesn't know why a two year old Colorado Springs boy died suddenly.

The boy's mother, Chilla Connor, is convinced her son died from mold growing inside their apartment.

Connor and her kids live at Pine Creek Village Apartments on the east side of town.

11 News tried calling the owner of the apartment complex but we weren't able to reach him. We even stopped by his home but he wasn't there.

A mold inspector, Ken Warden who's the owner of Peak Home Inspections, visited Chilla Connor's home Sunday evening. Warden said he found a shocking amount of mold right next to the boy's bedroom.

Ken Warden said, "If mold is not taken care of, it'll eat your house."

Warden began testing inside and out of Connor's home.

"Inside the walls, who knows what's in there", said Warden.

But when he opened up the closet door which sits right next to two year old Jovian's room, there was no question that the black spots Warden was looking at was mold growing furiously over the walls.

"All homes have mold spores. Everybody has them but when there's a higher count, that's when people get sick."

Spore levels will need to be tested in order to find out if the mold inside the home is toxic or not.

Chilla Connor said she's desperate to find out why a week ago her healthy two year old boy died mysteriously in his sleep.

She believes the mold in her home is toxic and is the reason why Jovian died.

Connor believes the mold began to grown after a water main break flooded her home last August.

"It leaked all the way from my bedroom, all the way throughout to the living room and my kid's bedroom", said Connor.

Connor says she and her kids have been sick ever since suffering from colds and sinus infections. But what she wants now, are answers and justice.

Again, we don't know if the mold in her home is toxic or not. Peak Home Inspections will have the results back with-in 48 hours.

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Posted by: Aleisha Morrison Location: Spokane Washington on Feb 1, 2008 at 02:24 PM
My name is Aleisha and I am very sorry to hear about that mothers death of her baby to the mold issue. my family and I use to live in those apartments 984 #12 and we had that same issue. We lived with a hole in the ceiling because the so called fantastic matience crew was to busy to fill it and the weather was poor!! A little after we moved they are trying to slap us with more fees saying we are responsible for and I have recipts prooving of payment!! If this mother wants help with this matter I'll help her as much as I can because my family and I did endure the same types of illnesses as her family has had.

Posted by: Mary Location: NY on Jan 28, 2008 at 04:15 PM
so what did the mold trests find?

Posted by: Dan and Carmella Location: Woodland Park, Colorado on Jan 24, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Our hearts and Prayers go out to this mom! We know too know the dangers of toxic mold, and what it does to the human body. Mold will eat a house alive, it will eat your body alive as well! I cannot begin to tell everyone how much it hurts inside to hear that a child is sick, or has died due to toxic mold, Jovian is NOT the first to die from mold!!! This is so sad, and so wrong that people like Opra, and Montell refuse to ackowledge us all, and do a show on this growing problem. I've personaly contacted both of these talk show host over the past 5 years at least 4 times each, and guess how many times I was ackowledged? NONE, not once did either acknowledge my letters to them. I've contacted Focus On The Family too, and they have been "thinking" about doing something since Aug. My husband and I started a Ministry to help other "moldies" as we are called. We have a website, and you can visit it at, http://www.thejoyofhope.org. If we don't all stand up and fight, soon we'll all be affected

Posted by: Heather Location: Colorado Springs on Jan 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
My son goes to school with one of your daughters and my heart goes out to you, my youngest son is a couple weeks older than your Jovian was and I just cannot imagine your pain. If you do some digging, there are other people on the net complaining of mold in this same complex. If you read this, please contact me and I will send you more information. SumnerRain@hotmail.com

Posted by: Traci Location: Colorado Springs on Jan 23, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Jovan was a beautiful, sweet baby. Chilla- my heart is broken for you and the kids. My prayers are with you, Ryan, the kids and your parents. There must be no limit to your sorrow. I am so sorry.

Posted by: Le Location: Colorado on Jan 23, 2008 at 01:03 AM
I just wanted to tell this family that I am so sorry for there loss... and I am so full of pain and sadness. I am praying for your family to find peace and light through such a dark time. Our officials, insurance companies, real estate professions and builders do not want anyone to know that mold will kill you...even when it is our children that our dieing and suffering the most. It truly is domestic terroism in our own homes. How can the public and top state officials continue to ignore this problem and allow our children to die and families suffer. Just tell the truth, educate everyone and fix this problem. Children and babies do not deserve to suffer to protect big businesses that contribute to your political campaigns. This is not a small group of miners this is our nations children...and no this is not the first child to die from mold exposure. He is one of an untold undisclosed number. Our nations biggest cover up. MOLD does KILL.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: NY on Jan 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM
This is a real tragedy. Stachybotrys is very dangerous. Spore tests often dont show it either. So spore tests are the wrong kind to use. Stachy had me coughing up blood a year and a half ago. I lost my health in a moldy. apt. People don't understand how dangerous it is. Many, many people have been killed by it. Why do you think the Bible warned us bout it 4000 years ago. Hidden mold inside of walls is invisible and dangerous. You should talk to Dr. David Straus at TTUHSC in Lubbock. He is one of the world experts in toxic molds. There is more to this story than meets the eye. Please see this paper by his group http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/71/1/114?view=long&pmid=15640178 its one of many that show why spore testing doesn't show stachybotrys most of the time. most of the toxins are on particles smaller than spores. The toxicity lasts a very long time. Dr. Straus is at David.Straus@ttuhsc.edu

Posted by: Rachael Location: Tucson,Az on Jan 22, 2008 at 06:52 PM
I sympathize with this family I too am in the same situation. In 2000 my grandson passed away and 1 week later my neighbors grandchild passed away for the same reasons. We currently are still fighting this out in court. Mold was found within the bodies of the 2 babies. This family is more then welcome to e-mail me if there is any information I can help pass on I would be more then happy to help.

Posted by: Richard Location: Theisen on Jan 21, 2008 at 04:45 PM
People all over are in touble and the people to help are few, so I thank the news for letting us all know that we are not alone. God Bless the NEWS, A'men

Posted by: Jack Location: Security on Jan 21, 2008 at 04:10 PM
This must be the first case of mold killing someone I presume.

Posted by: Susan Location: CA on Jan 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
If you go to www.schoolmoldhelp.org, you will find our Sick Building Symptoms and Mold Research pages, where you will see that common building molds have been investigated for sickening and even causing the deaths of babies up through adults and reported by researchers and physicians as doing just that. Another site to view is www.biotoxin.info, the site of Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, physician and researcher, who has treated 6500 mold patients, published peer-reviewed research (find it on our site www.schoolmoldhelp.org) and a book, Mold Warriors, www.moldwarriors.com. It is a national shame that our physicians and medical experts and authorities do not recognize mold as a deadly threat to our health. Our sincere condolences to this family.

Posted by: crystal Location: kansas on Jan 21, 2008 at 07:30 AM
that is so sad. i hope u get answers and sue big time. how come u never moved if u thought it was so bad?