Royal City school grieves children's deaths

Surviving sibling, cousin in critical condition

ROYAL CITY - Counselors were called to Royal City's Red Rock Elementary to help students and teachers grieve Monday's accidental death of an 8-year-old boy who attended school there.

Jose Gilberto Acosta Ramirez died Monday from carbon monoxide poisoning with his 4-month-old brother, Alan Y. Acosta Ramirez and sister Yadina Acosta Ramirez, 2, Grant County Coroner Jerry Jasman said.

An electric-powered heater was brought into the family's home to run an electric heater to warm the house. A power outage knocked out power to about seven or eight houses, including power for the family's home, Grant County PUD reported. The children's parents were outside working on the property in a nearby cherry orchard and later found the children dead.

It's unknown who brought the generator inside and deputies haven't been able to talk to the 21-year-old cousin who was baby-sitting because she's in the hospital, Grant County Chief Deputy John Turley said.

Extra counselors from Grant County Mental Health were brought to the school to help the school's regular counselor, said Royal School District Superintendent Rose Search. The counselors are also available for Jose's current and former teachers, she said.

Jose attended school at Red Rock since kindergarten, Search said.

He was remembered by school staff as "a real nice young man, a pleasure to have in school and class. He will be greatly missed," Search said.

She said staff was too upset to speak directly with the media.

Survivors in the home were Jose's sister Katya Rodriguez, 13, and a cousin, Jazmin Ramirez, 21. They were listed in critical condition Wednesday at Spokane's Sacred Heart Medical Center.

The children's parents, Gilberto Acosta Gallegos, 34, and his wife, Elba Villanueva Ramirez, 35, are employed at a cherry orchard near their home, said Ryan Rasor.

Rasor said the couple works for his parents.

"They were our right-hand guys," Rasor said of the couple. "Gilbert's been with us for several years."

Rasor said he didn't know if funeral arrangements were made for the children.

An account under the name "Acosta Children Fund" was established at U.S. Bank in Royal City to help the family. Deposits can be made at any U.S. Bank.