The death of a Newton, Massachusetts, family of four in New Hampshire this Christmas has left many in the city in mourning.
The Goldsteins — husband and wife Matthew and Lyla and their daughters Violet and Valerie — were found on Wednesday dead inside their vacation home in Wakefield of what investigators suspect was carbon monoxide poisoning — there were no carbon monoxide detectors at the home, authorities said Friday.
Valerie, 22, was supposed to be having a birthday party Friday. Instead, friends gathered to remember her.
"She was the most loving, accepting person you could possibly imagine," Jessie King told reporters.
"I couldn't have asked for a better friend," said Keren Kohane, calling the family accepting, close, "warm and welcoming."
Matthew Goldstein was a teacher at Brookline Public Schools — flowers and messages of condolence were left at the K-8 Edith Baker School, where he taught.
"Mr. Goldstein's dedication to inspiring students and shaping young minds has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him," Superintendent Linus Guillory Jr. said in a message to the community.
Valerie's friend Conor Sheehy remembered him similarly: "He was beloved as a teacher. He would constantly post about how students would return back to his classroom to come visit him."
Violet’s roommate at the Rhode Island School of Design, Finleigh Lewis, said in a statement obtained by The Boston Globe that she was "a beautiful source of light," kind and caring.
Investigators have so far confirmed that Matthew Goldstein died of carbon monoxide poisoning, with testing still pending for the rest of the family, but officials described what happened as apparently a tragic accident.
"At this time we’ve identified the homes heating system to be the source of the carbon monoxide leak," New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said.
The bodies were found inside the family's home on Province Lake Road after authorities were called for a wellbeing check around 4:21 p.m. — family members reported that they didn't show up to a holiday event they were supposed to attend.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas with no odor or color produced in the burning of fuel, and Toomey urged the public to ensure they have working alarms in their homes to prevent further tragedies like the one that befell the Goldsteins.
