Father Who Lost 16-Year-Old to Carbon Monoxide Will Give Away 1,000 Free Detectors in Son's Memory

Steve Ford of Howard County, Indiana, is turning a year of grief into a life-saving effort. His 16-year-old son, Joe Ford, died on Jan. 26, 2025, after being exposed to carbon monoxide inside an ice-fishing tent. To honor Joe's memory, Steve is raising funds to purchase and distribute 1,000 free carbon monoxide detectors across the Kokomo area.

A coroner ruled Joe's death the result of acute carbon monoxide toxicity and classified the manner of death as accidental, according to local reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 400 people in the U.S. die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.

What Happened

According to a GoFundMe set up for the family and interviews with local stations, Joe had been ice fishing on a farm pond. Because of the cold, he used a propane heater inside the fishing shelter the night before he was found unresponsive on Jan. 26, 2025. Steve Ford wrote that he did not realize the heater could produce deadly carbon monoxide: "The carbon monoxide that it produced took my son's life."

"Just finding out that your child's gone… it makes you sick to your stomach," Steve told WRTV. "You think about all these things that could happen... the last thing on my mind was carbon monoxide."

The Memorial Project

In Joe's honor, Steve plans to buy 1,000 carbon monoxide detectors and distribute them in the Kokomo area. Each detector will come with a flyer that explains safety tips, information about the Joe Ford Legacy Fund, and a memorial sticker dedicated to Joe. According to reports, a GoFundMe had raised more than $33,000 for the family as of Feb. 3.

Steve intends to hand out the detectors on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, hoping the simple act of giving a detector — and a reminder about ventilation and safe heating practices — will prevent another tragedy. "If one person is saved or changes their mindset about how they're heating an enclosed space, it'd be worth it all," he told WRTV.

Remembering Joe

Joe was a sophomore at Kokomo High School and an eight-year member of Howard County's 4-H program. His obituary described him as kind-hearted with an infectious smile. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing guitar, and cared deeply for his GMC truck. Joe had been taking welding classes at the Kokomo Area Career Center and dreamed of a career in guide services.

Safety Reminder

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion from fuel-burning appliances and heaters. Experts recommend installing carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of a home, checking batteries regularly, and ensuring adequate ventilation when using fuel-burning devices. Never use portable heaters, grills, or generators inside enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

Sources: Local reporting from WRTV and WTHR; GoFundMe page for the Ford family; CDC statistics on unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.