rodney todd had been raising his kids by himself the last three years. >> we have bits of details how long they lived in the home. they moved in november of last year. >> reporter: "electric service was discontinued last year at the request of the --" >> we apologize. we're having some technical difficulty there. >>> phi kappa psi fraternity is blasting "rolling stone" magazine for its response to the uva controversy. the national fraternity released a statement demanding full accountability for everyone involved in the report that wrongly accused its uva chapter of gang-rape. "rolling stone" has retracted the report and apologized but the reporter and her editors have not been fired. phi kappa psi officers say they're evaluating options beyond lawsuit the uva chapter plans to pursue. >>> developing story out of i'll wril seven people are dead after a small plane crashed in the central part of the state. relatives say the group was flying home from the ncaa championship game when their plane went down in bloomington about a mile from the airport. among the victims deputy athletic dire

rodney todd's family was last seen alive the weekend of march 28, when the low temperature was 26 degrees. today, delmarva power said just three days earlier, the company had discovered a stolen electric meter was being used at the home and disconnected the illegally connected meter for safety reasons. one of the many mysteries of this tragedy scott, is that in the past, rodney todd has applied for assistance from a local community service program to help pay his utility bills but this year, he did not even apply. and by the way, what you see behind me, scott is ray group of local boy scouts putting a tarp over that makeshift memorial to protect it from the rain. >> pelley: chip reid reporting for us tonight. chip, thank you. a federal jury began deliberating today in the boston marathon bombing trial. dzhokhar tsarnaev faces 30 charges, 17 of them carry the death penalty. no verdict yet. this is exactly the kind of case however, that involves homegrown terrorists radicalized online, the kind of terrorism that the f.b.i. is struggling to keep up with. jeff pegues has more on this. >> repo

a grandmother's unspeakable grief, her son rodney todd sr.oto, are all gone. >> he just wanted to do everything that was right and he was setting a good example for his children and he did just that. >> reporter: rodney todd, sr. had not been seen since over a week ago, march 28th. school officials had been here twice to knock looking for the kids, five of whom went to the same elementary school. finally today todd's co-workers and family begged police for help. >> we're going to file a missing report. >> reporter: lloyd edwards was here at 1:00 this afternoon when police went inside. >> the detective came back out and said hold it there, sir. you can't come in. this is a crime scene. >> they also found a generator. >> reporter: princess anne's police chief is scott keller. >> that generator was off and out of gas. the power was off in the house and they were in different rooms in beds and sleeping positions. >> he was such a good man. he was such a good plan and when they told me he wasn't -- plan and when they told me he wasn't -- man and w

rodney todd and his seven children died inside their princess anne home where the power was cut off and a generator was in use. the community has raised about $10,000 to help pay for funeral expenses. that funeral is scheduled for april 18th at university of maryland eastern shore campus where rodney todd worked. >>> coming up see how a high school senior puts some of his classmates to shame by asking his sweetheart to the prom in a really big way. >> but first surviving soldiers and relatives of troops who died in the november, 2009 ft. hood shooting are honored for heroism and sacrifice. >> starting tomorrow join mike hydek and meteorologist erica grow saturday from 7 to 8 a.m. and sunday from 7 to 8:30 to be >>> dozens of purple hearts and defense of freedom medals were given out today to the families of those killed in the ft. hood shooting in texas. >> this took place in the same spot where the deadly shooting happened in 2009. cbs' marley hall takes us there. >> reporter: memories of that november, 2009 ft. hood attack came flooding back. it was the deadliest act of violence by a

and he did just that. >> reporter: rodney todd sr. had not been seen since more than a week ago, march 28th. school officials had been here twice to knock, looking for the kids, five of whom went to the same elementary school. finally, todd's coworkers and family begged police for help. >> we were going to file a missing report. >> reporter: stepgrandfather lloyd edwards was here at 1:00 this afternoon when police went inside. >> the detective said hold it right there. you can't come in. this is a crime scene. >> they also found a generator. >> reporter: princess anne's police chief is scott keller. >> that generator was often out of gas. the power was off in the house. and they were in different rooms. in beds in sleeping positions. >> he was such a good dad. he was such a good dad. when they told me he wasn't going to work, i knew something was wrong. and the kids wasn't going to school. i knew something was wrong. it just hurts. it hurts. it hurts me. >> that is scott broom of our washington affiliate wusa reporting. the seven chil

rodney todd is the man's name. he and his children were found dead inside a house in princess anne maryland. they were killed in their sleep by carbon monoxide. our chris gordon has our report. >> reporter: there is profound sadness here. 36-year-old rodney todd and his seven children died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator he ran in the kitchen after his electricity was shut off. >> just know weerg not going to be able to see him and that he died doing what he always did best and that is being an awesome father. >> reporter: a co-worker was concerned because she hadn't seen todd since march 28th. all seven children attended local public schools and their absences were noted. >> they made phone calls and two home visits and of course there was nothing unusual about the exterior of the home and when they went there, they receive nod answer. but they tried on two occasions to make home visits. >> reporter: rodney todd began renting this home in november of last year. i called delmarva power to a

delmarva power says it removed an illegal meter from rodney todd's home. e power company disconnected service last october about a honts before the month before the people moved in. the company says there was no request to reconnect service. todd ran a generator in the kitchenen. the family died from carbon monoxide poisoning. >>> today police are looking for a man who hit an officer and took off. that officer was off duty woulding security around the high he saidend shops. the officer approached a suspicious car and the driver took off dragging him a short distance. investigators not sure why the driver sped off. >>> if it feel like you have more cash in your wallet, it isn't your imagination. >> can i were row yourborrow your wallet? >> seriously. our friends at cnbc crunched the numbers for you. wlan done landon i need to see more of this cash. >> we've been talking about oil prices all year. cheaper gash may lead to more cash this your wallet because the government says average u.s. household save $700 this year thanks to lower prices at the pump. it's

rodney todd worked for dining services. rvisor telling us todd was a single dad raising his five girls and two boys. those close to the family say that todd and his children died from carbon dioxide poisoning. princess anne police are waiting for the official cause of death from the medical examiner. >>> a jury will likely begin deliberations in the boston marathon bombing trial. juries heard weeks of dramatic testimony. prosecutors say that accused bomber dzhokar tsarnaev committed a, quote, cold, calculated terrorist act. defense attorney told the jury that dzhokar was involved but heavily influenced by his older brother. >>> today students and d.c. officials will rally against budget cuts at wilson high school. the rally set for 3:45 this afternoon at the flag pole in the front of the school in northwest d.c. the public school system wants to cut wilson high school's budget next year by 10% or 1.8 million. >>> more developments todayed in the 2016 presidential race. kentucky senator rand paul will announce his candidacy.

this is the home where the tragedy occurred in princess anne maryland. 36-year-old rodney todd and his seven children all found dead inside. this afternoon i spoke to a nephew and some friends of the family all gathered outside. >> didn't ask nobody for nothing. took care of them kids by himself. he sacrificed for his kids. and at the end, sacrificing causing his life. >> reporter:ed to rod knee todd was raising the children by himself. electricity to the house had been shut off. the family had been using a generator in the kitchen, which had run out of gas. police say the home had a smoke alarm but no carbon monoxide detector. coming up tonight on news4 at 5:00 the very latest from the princess anne police chief as he holds a news conference to update the situation. that's the latest from princess anne maryland. chris gordon, news4. >>> they call it the silent killer. how can you make sure that what happened with that family in princess anne county doesn't happen to you? erika gonzalez has what to do a bit later this-in this hour. >>> we now know what's inside the suspicious package t

after that police believe rodney todd sr. resorted to a generator. the fumes killed him and his seven children. in a house that had not been hooked up to electricity legally since october of last year. todd moved in in november. the bodies discovered monday after a co-worker reported the family missing for more than a week. today grief but also anger. >> the community and the system failed this father. failed him. he has 7 kids in the kids and he is is working full-time with no benefits. that's what angers me. >> reporter: five of the seven children who died attended the princess ann elementary school nearby where today was anything but normal. >> sad. my kids used to play with them kids. >> reporter: todd's family overwhelmed with grief. the children's grandmother. >> in life he wanted to do everything that was right. he was setting a good example for his children. i knew something was wrong when he didn't go to work. >> reporter: delmar power says they disconnected the electricity for safety reasons and not because of nonpayment of a bill. >> repor

dead are rodney todd sr. a single father with custody of his seven kids. all of them found dead in the home monday. a generator out of gas in the kitchen. the family may have been dead more than a week. some here are angry that delmar power turned off electricity to a home with so many children. >> i think the power company -- was wrong. >> reporter: but delmar power says safety was the top concern when utility workers discovered the home was getting power from an illegal connection in a house not connected legally since october. todd and his children moved in in november. the bodies discovered when a co-worker alerted police the family was not seen for a week. >> he wanted to do everything that was right and setting a good example for his children. >> reporter: todd was remembered by his grief-stricken mother as a hard worker dedicated to his kids. five of whom attended the nearby school. >> it it hurts. hurts. hurts me. >> reporter: the power company says it didn't disconnect electricity here because of nonpayment. apparently because there was never any

the bodies of rodney todd, sr. and his children ages 6 to 16 were found monday inside their prince ann county home. a generator left running in the kitchen killed that family. the power had been shut off last month after delmarva power crews discovered it had been connected to a stolen meter. vigils to honor the family are planned for thursday and friday night. >>> gaithersburg police need your help to fine two people wearing masks who -- find two people wearing masks who vandalized a temple. surveillance video shows those two spray i can'ting 11 swastikas -- spray painting 11 swastikas on main street early saturday morning. >> we're looking at video footage from other businesses and residents. >> police are also looking into whether the fact it was just announced that next week is holocaust remembrance week had anything to do with this. >>> you could call it the bracket boy brouhaha. this young fellow beat out millions of entries in the espn bracket challenge, so how come he only got a gift basket instead of the g

rodney todd and his seven children were inside their prince anne home where their power was cut off and she used a generator inside. they believe that was the cause. the community has helped raise $10,000 to help pay for funeral expenses. >>> president obama calls them stationary weapons of mass destruction. now there's a new push to prevent chemical plant disasters that could put tens of thousands of people at risk, some right here in our area in fact. here is rick hein, a glean peace legislator. thank you for joining us. what cienlts of plants are we -- kind of plafnlt rs we talking about -- plants are we talking about. >> any team cal plants that carry poison gas. in the d.c. area after 9/11, the sewage treatment plant put 1.7 million people at risk. they had ten rail cars of chlorine gas. in 90 days they converted to a safer alternative. that's what we're trying to get the epa to issue regulations on to require where feasible a plant to switch. >> people don't know the chlorine gas is used maybe as a cleansing agent or some sort of chemical reaction. >> disinfectant. >> but when the

. >>> tonight neighbors and friend gathered at a prayer vigil at the home where rodney todd and i had seven children died -- and his seven children died frommingal carbon monoxide poisoning. it's believed the fumes came from a generator todd was using after his electricity was turned off. tomorrow employees of university of eastern maryland shore where rodney worked will hold a fish fry outside antioch united methodist church to try to help with expenses. >>> new troubles for the millionaire at the center of the hbo documentary the jinx. today a federal court in new orleans slapped robert durst with illegally possessing a handgun. durst is charged in the 2000 killing of long time friend susan berman. >>> bugs and rodents shut down the grocery aisle at a target store in an updale d.c. neighborhood. the location on 14th street in northwest has all the food item blocked off. >>> by the end of this weekend we could have our first democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential pool. folks who know her plans say hillary clinton will post an online video sunday announcing her bid for the whit

the victim, single father, 36- year-old rodney todd, sr., who had custody of his seven children age 6 to 14 attempting to raise the kids in some modest home here in princess anne. the how we are was off. police found a generator of the police suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. todd and the kids found yesterday after going missing since march 28. this morning at the princess anne elementary school, stunned students, parents, parents and star, -- parents and star, -- and staff, stunned reaction. >> it's really hard. grieving. i feel sorry -- [indiscernible] it's really ashame. >> terrifying, sad. my kids used to play with them kids. they would come to the house, ride bikes together. just terrifying. >> this community and the system failed xthis father. they failed. you turn off the heck fridaysty -- electricity with seven kids in the house? >> that's the former head of the naacp here in somerset county. mr. todd working full-time at nearby university as a food service worker. he split up with the children's mother in 2013. school officials told me they actually visited this home twice

the bodies of rodney todd and his seven children were found in their home on monday. the medical examiner says they died of carbon monoxide poisoning. police say it came from a generator installed after the family's power was disconnected. investigators say they're looking into what steps delmarva power took and when. they say the electricity had been cut off for nonpayment but the power company says it was because they discovered a stolen meter at the rental home. back here getting a live look outside now. a cloudy dreary day ahead. we're seeing more chances for rain tonight. doug hill is here with a look at the first forecast. hey, doug. doug: hi there. been watching rain from earlier this morning. moved off east to the eastern shore. so for the moment outside of those areas, most of them have a cloudy, damp day and a little touch of light rain and drizzle. stuff that's too light to be detected by doppler radar. but there are areas to the west that we can definitely detect by doppler. here it is. complex of thunderstorms from columbus that arced back southwestward i

delmarva power says it did not cut off power to rodney todd's home because of late payment. the utility says a stolen electric meter was disconnected from the rental home last month for safety reasons. the bodies of todd and his seven children were found yesterday. todd's stepfather says he and todd's mother felt something was wrong. >> our concern was that she didn't heard anything from him for almost a week and a half. and that was kind of baffling because normally he would call her four or five times a day. maureen: todd's mother said the family use a gas powered generator to keep warm. investigators say generator filled the home with carbon monoxide. still ahead on abc 7 news at 6:00 -->> the phone records of law abiding citizens are none of their damn business! maureen: rand paul's fiery speech as he enters the presidential race and the challenges that the kentucky republican already faces. plus why marion barry's widow is suing the woman who donated a kidney to the late d.c. mayor and the video police hope will leave them to a vandal that leaves symbols of hate on a sy

the father has been identified as rodney todd a supervisor from his job tells us that todd was raising his five girls and two boys on his own. he worked for dining services at nearby university of maryland eastern shore, but when todd didn't show up for work today, his supervisor reported him missing. this afternoon that supervisor says her worst fears were realized. >> he's in the house with a generator, and that's what you know, carbon monoxide poison killed them. >> you couldn't ask for a better father. you couldn't ask for a better man. you know? he's been with his -- he's had his kids for three years by himself. >> the man and his children have not yet been identified. the children ranged in age from 6 to 16. >>> new at 11:00 tonight, doctors are working to save the life of a teenager found shot in southeast d.c. that boy was found on 37th street here just before 8:00 tonight. he was unconscious and not breathing on the way to the hospital but police have not updated his condition. no word on what led to the shooting. >>> a mother tonight is demanding justice after she lost her so

somber investigation this morning at this small house in princess anne maryland where a single dad rodney todd and his seven children ages 6 to 16 were all found dead. the cause believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning. >> he loved his children he was always eager to please. >> todd's mother and grandmother to the children in disbelief her son reported missing two days after he failed to show up for work at a university kitchen. >> when police arrived at the home they found no signs of foul play but immediately noticed a potential cause for the grim discovery. >> there was no electricity in the house and there was a generator using to be run the electric in the house that gasoline powered generator was found in the kitchen out of fuel, carbon monoxide the colorless, odorless gas known as the silent killer is responsible for more than 400 deaths and 20,000 injuries each year in the united states. generators produce the toxic gas and the cdc says they should never be used indoors. >>indoors. >>> new at 12:30 a review of government data shows wait times around va clinics in pennsylvania are bette

we've learned that the power company removed an illegal meter from rodney todd's home in princess anne maryland a little more than a week and his seven children were found dead inside the home. power was not turned off due to a lack of payment. todd's sister says her brother was just doing what he could to provide for his family. >> people might not understand why he made the decision to put a generator on the inside but when you got kids nothing runs through your mind of what's supposed to be in order or -- you just think about your kids. >> power was disconnected a month before todd and his children moved in. that was about six months ago. but nobody called to have it turned back on at that time. >>> a teenager was killed while visiting old friends, but there are no answers tonight in terms of who did it or why. luke holt is the victim's name. he was sitting on the steps at an apartment on 37th street northeast last night. a friend said somebody rolled up and just started shooting. today that friend placed flowers and balloons at the murder site. >> when i came to him, he grabbed my

rodney todd had a generator running in the kitchen. delmarva power tells news 4 electric service was disconnected last october and there was no request to connect the service again. the power company sfofr discovered a stolen electric meter and removed it last month a week before the family was found dead. friends and relatives last saw them alive on march 28. >> some people might not understand why he made the decision too put a generator on the inside but when you kids, nothing runs through your mind of what is supposed to be in order or -- you just think about your kids. p. >> todd started renting the home back in november a month after the power was shut off. >>> we are learning this morning a loudoun county man accused of murdering three people in alexandria will stand trial. news 4 confirmed that a judge found charles severance competent to take the stand. his attorneys now want a change of venue away from alexandria. police arrested severance months after the shooting death of ruthanne lodato. he was then linked to two other mu

carbon monoxide from a generator left running in the kitchen of this small home killed single father rodney todd and his seven children five girls and two boys between the ages of 6 and 16. >> the children were all in bed appeared they were sleeping. >> reporter: the victims were discovered monday, nine days after they were last seen when overnight temperatures hovered below freezing. police say the todd family moved into the home last november, but delmarva power said it never received a request for servic adding it did not disconnect the electric service for nonpayment. they found a stolen electric meter was used at the home and disconnected that illegal meter. todd's mother said he was a hard working father. >> he had his kids for three years, by himself. and he did the best he could with what he had. >> reporter: just days ago, three members of another family die carbon monoxide poisoning due to a generator inside t home in tenn the cdc says carbon monoxide is to bla for roughly 400 deaths and more than 20,000 injuries each year. it can also come from faulty gas furnaces, fireplaces and wate

del marva a power says it cut off power to rodney todd's house march 25th for safety reasons because utility found and illegally connect electric meter. todd then started to use a gas powered generator indoors leading to the toxic build up. todd his two sons, and five daughters were found yesterday. >>> police say that the children were all in bed it appears, they had been a asleep. >>> the federal government is missing, a pretty penny off air, off the travelers forget to pick up their loose change. the rush to get through airport security lines many people leave behind the coins, they take out of their pockets to go through metal detectors. all this nickel and diming added up to $674,000 last fiscal year for the tsa and there must be, a inflation because that is a jump of $37,000 from the the year before. >>> imagine being able to charge your smart phone in just 60 seconds. researchers at stanford university say they have come up away to do just that. they have created an aluminum battery which can power up a cell even if in one minute. researchers say not only is it faster but it i

deaths of a father and his seven children were caused by a gas-powered generator that 36-year-old rodney toddet up in his kitchen. the power company says it turned off the house's electric supply over worries about safety with an illegal power supply hookup using a stolen meter. >>> and in rural virginia, a 54-year-old woman was carried out of the woods on a stretcher after being lost for more than 12 hours. she had crashed her minivan and was disoriented, then police say she got lost and couldn't find her way out of the woods. she suffered cuts to her head and neck but is now listed in good condition. >>> a gang of thieves in london has pulled off what may be one of the biggest heists ever getting away with a reported $300 million in jewels. the thieves disarmed a sophisticated security system and used heavy cutting equipment to break into a vault into the diamond district. the crime went undetected until yesterday morning when jewelers opened for business after the long easter holiday. >>> a guy on vacation in florida was in the right place at the right time perhaps to catch this shot. he w

after that, police believe rodney todd used a generate or to provide the home with heat and light. police discovered the bodies yesterday after one of todd's co-workers reported the family missing for more than a week. we spoke with the children's grandmother. >> he just wanted to do everything that was right and he was setting a good example for his children and when they told me he wasn't going to work i knew something was wrong and the kids went to go to school and i knew something was wrong. >> now he says a disconnect the electricity for safety reasons, not for lack of payment. the company has offered condolences to relatives and friends. >>> we are learning that some local musicians were among those killed or injured in a highway accident. this happened yesterday along i85 in jackson county, georgia as members of two bands were headed to atlanta. 25-year-old nicholas from round hill, virginia was killed and 31 year old matthew shayner of silver spring, maryland and 25- year-old james of leesburg, virginia was injured. >>> well as expected kentucky senator rand paul is officia

relatives have identified the victims as rodney todd and his seven children.d them all dead inside a home yesterday from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. their autopsies are scheduled today. >>> the young victims ranged in age from six to 16. police went to check on the family yesterday when todd hadn't shown up to work in several days. last night todd's mother and friends broke their silence. they said todd was a good man struggling to make ends meet. the family had been using a fuel powered generator because the power company cut off their electricity. >> he was a great father. he was a wonderful father. he's a father that anyone would want to have. >> that community and the system failed him a father taking care of seven kids by himself. and i just feel devastated. >> horrible tragedy. crisis counselors will be in somerset county public schools starting today. they will remain there through the week to help students cope with the loss of their classmates. matt. >> thanks, erin. >>> this right here is teamwork. surveillance cameras at a subway station in

rodney todd jr. and his boys and girls were found dead. he went out to buy a generator because the power was cut off. his boss was concerned because she has not seen him since last month. >> it hurts. it hurts me. >> reporter: on monday bonnie edwards learned she lost her son and seven grandchildren. >> i was such a good man. when they told me he wasn't going to work i knew something was wrong. the kids weren't going to school. i knew something was wrong. >> reporter: according to edwards, rodney todd jr. and children ages 6 to 16 were relying on a gas generator to stay warm. likely they were overcome by carbon monoxide an odorless gas. >> the generator was off and out of gas. the power was off in the house and they were in different rooms in beds and sleeping positions. >> reporter: todd's boss stephanie wells said a bad feeling led her to check on him. she had not heard from the 36-year-old father in a week. >> i felt something was wrong. he did not report to work. nobody could contact him. he is not that type of person. >> reporter: wel

police believe rodney todd sr. resorted to a generator. the fumes killed him and his seven children. in a house that had not been hooked up to electricity legally since october of last year. the bodies discovered monday after a co-worker reported the family missing for more than a week. today grief but also anger. >> the community and the system failed this father. it failed him. he has seven kids in the house, and the man is working full-time. with no benefits. and that's what angers me . >> reporter: five of had children attended the princess ann middle school nearby. >> grieving. feel sorry for their loss . it's really -- a shame. >> terrifying. sad. my kids play with them kids. they -- come to the house ride bikes together. >> reporter: a school social worker was sent to investigate last week. the superintendent is john gattis. >> knocked on the door and did not see anything out of normal. >> just hurts. hurts. this hurts me . >> reporter: todd's family overwhelmed with grief. >> in life he just wanted to do everything that was right.

rodney todd and his kids died from a generator used to keep them warm.id they disconnected service, in october the rental home was using an illegally stolen report they denied that they cut electric because of unpaid bills. >>> an 11-year-old autistic child saw rescuers after four nights alone in the wood. once rescuers found him they cut a path for an ambulance to get in and wrapped him in foil and reunited him with his incredible grateful mom and dad they don't know how he survived the cold, dark nights with no food and no water. >> a miracle. now to north jersey where an animal outlaw is giving the police a run for their money. they arrived, the intruder fled the crime scene and an officer eventually corralled billy the goat and took him into custody. >>> here at the big board with the big talkers and a big leap of final from a georgia whif that refused to give up hope on her husband of seven months they defied the odds, when a motorcycle accident sent her husband, matthew, into a coma, the doctors said there was little to do and suggested she pull th

removed an illegal meter from that home about a week before the family was found dead. 36-year-old rodney todd a generator running in the kitchen. delmarva power tells news 4 electric service was disconnected last october and there was no request to reconnect the service. the power company discovered a stolen electric meter and removed it last month. friends and relatives last saw the family alive on march 28. >> just knowing that we won't be able to see him and that he died doing what he always did best and that is being an awesome father. >> todd started renting that home back in november a month after the power was shut off. >>> 5:19. the loudoun county man accused of murdering three people in alexandria will stand trial. news 4 confirmed a judge found charles severance competent to stand trial. the attorney now wants a change of venue. they want to move the trial away from alexandria. police arrested severance last year months after the shooting death of ruthanne lodato. he was then linked to two other murder over the past decade. >>> former university lacrosse player appealing their case

the father has been identified as rodney todd. his kids ranged in age from 6 to 16. a supervisor tells us todd was raising his five girls and two boys on his own. he worked for dining services. the supervisor said she knew something was wrong when todd didn't show up for work. >> you couldn't ask for a better father. you couldn't ask for a better man, you know, he's had his kids for three years by himself. >> princess and police are not releasing an official cause of death until a coroner releases its report. >>> we just got new video of a burnt out fire truck being towed away from a warehouse fire. a massive fire did more than a million dollars in damage and destroyed two fire engines. [ sirens ] containers of styrofoam caught fire and the wind shifted and the engines were quickly engulfed. engulfed. >> we've never lost two fire engines on a building fire. >> my main concern is everybody is safe. we can replace the fire trucks. none of the firefighters was hurt in this. >> neighbors living near the warehouse in capital heights said it looked like the sun was being b

rodney todd sr., his seven children, five girls, two boys, were last seen march 28. that's the last time dad reported to work. we don't know the last time the kids attended classes but we can tell you school officials visited the princess anne home twice. the family was about to file a missing persons report about their loved ones when police discovered the bodies insides the home that they say had no electricity and a generator inside. >> that generator was off and out of gas. the power was off in the house. and they were in different rooms in beds and in sleeping positions. >> in life he just wanted to do everything that was right. he wanted to set a good example for his children and he did just that. >> reporter: that is the dad's mom. the seven children's grandmother. just devastating news for that whole community. really a small-knit community. the children, five of them attended the same elementary school. this morning there will be grief counselors to help all of their mass mates deal with -- classmates deal with this tragic tragedy. >> delia goncalves from ou

rodney todd and his seven children died inside their princess anne home where the power was cut off and a general rarity was in use. friends and family -- generator was in use. friends and family will gather tonight at 7:00. >>> fairfax county police are on the lookout for a hit and run driver. this happened on ox road and zion drive last night south of braddock road. investigators say the driver hit a woman who was jogging and then kept going. the woman was taken to the hospital with nonlife threatening injuries. the vehicle is described as a small gray sedan. if you know anything about this incidents, call fairfax -- incident, call fairfax county police. >>> we've been telling you about those sabra and blue bell recalls over listeria concerns. danielle nottingham explains why health officials are now taking action. >> reporter: blue bell creameries has recalled more than 25 products in the last month over listeria concerns and now sabra is recallingist classic hummus because of possible listeria contamination. eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause an infection which includ

rodney todd and his children who were between six and 15 years old were last seen alive march 28th.ice responding to a welfare check made the tragic discovery yesterday. >> they will be so missed and i still think there is a time that we really don't believe that it happened. it is beyond our scope of imagination right now. >> investigators say they are seeking family's utility record from the power company to find out compactly when their services were shut off. >>> two members of the illinois state university athletic department were a among the seven people killed in the plane crash early this morning. passengers were traveling from the ncaa basketball tournament in indianapolis when the small plane crash near blooming ton. investigators are still determining the cause of that crash but local meteorologist say there was poor visibility due to heavy fog. >>> good evening everyone. latest update for that earlier vehicle fire on the eastbound side of the schuylkill across from the amtrak building is it has been extinguished. they have moved really quickly doing that so, if you are t

rodney todd and his seven children found dead in their home in princess anne on the eastern shore. todd was a single father and police say he and his kids were poisoned by carbon monoxide while they slept. this after a generator -- after they used a generator inside their home. this funeral will be held at the university of maryland on the eastern shore. >>> tonight we're getting new insight into why a prince george's county sheriff will not be facing charges for shooting and kidding an unarmed man last year. some of those details include never-before-heard 911 calls. prince george's county bureau chief tracee wilkins is in upper marlboro. >> michael minor was shot three times and he was unarmed. his mother says that's a clear reason for criminal charges to be brought against sheriff's deputies and that's why she's suing for millions. but the state's attorney says it's not that simple. >> just like a part of me is gone. >> reporter: this mother wants to know what led to prince george's county sheriff's deputies shooting and killing her 38-year-old unarmed son last october. >> i nee

after being contacted by a concern co-worker of the father, who has been identified by relatives as rodney todd the 36 year-old had not been seen for days. >> i knew something was raining when did he not come to work on saturday. >> reporter: police have not the released an official cause but they quickly ruled out foul play. signs indicate carbon monoxide poisoning toys blame. >> i will say that there was a generator using to run the electric in the house. >> reporter: relatives say the family was using generator after a power company cut off their electricity. they say that todd had recently fallen on tough times. >> he had to do something to keep his kid warm in that house. >> the the community and the system failed him a father taking care of seven kids by himself. >> reporter: despite whatever problems todd was having people that knew him best say he was a giving man and always put other need before his own. >> in life he just wanted to do everything that was right and he was setting a good example for his children and he did just that. >> they are going to be so missed and we still don't

the company said it did not cut off power to the home of rodney todd. todd, his two young sons and five daughters were found dead inside their house yesterday. the state medical examiner has ruled the cause of death for all eight now, just learning this to be accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. delmarva power says todd was behind on his utility bills and they had discovered an electric meter illegally connected to the house where the family had been living since november. power company says it disconnected that meter for safety reasons on march 25th. and todd had been using a generator to power his home. the family was last seen alive on the 28th. now, delmarva power says it is deeply saddened by this tragedy and urges all of its customers to contact them if they have any problems with their power. i'm horace holmes reporting live in the newsroom abc 7 news. now, abc 7 news at 5:00 starts right now. leon: widespread power outages. >> power is out at the entire state department. >> everything blinked off. phones, everything went off. leon: the white ho

the bodies of rodney todd and his seven children were found monday in princess anne maryland. todd had placed a generator inside of his kitchen after the power company cut electricity to a stolen meter on his home. funeral services for the todd family will take place april 18th at the ella fitzgerald center for the performing arts on the campus of the university of maryland eastern shore, alison? alison: leon, there is some unwanted free publicity for some maryland businesses today. the comptroller has released what he's calling the list of maryland's biggest tax cheats. kevin lewis is here with a look at some of the local companies that made this list. kevin? kevin: hi there alison. one might imagine a handful of tax attorneys received some pretty frantic phone calls today. this is the official rundown of what maryland is calling the top 20 tax cheats. the grand total of money owed here, more than $6 million. number one on this list is a company called c.t.f. & associates inc. it works out of this gaithersburg office suite. maryland says the company that offers custodial serv

relatives have identified the victims as rodney todd and his seven children.de a home yesterday from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. their autopsies are scheduled today. the young victims ranged in age from six to 16. police went to check on the family yesterday when todd hadn't shown up to work in several days. last night todd's mother and friends broke their silence. they said todd was a good man struggling to make ends meet. the family had been using a fuel powered generator because the power company cut off their electricity. >> he's a great father. he's a wonderful father. he's a father that anyone would want to have. >> hurtful that the community and the system failed him. a father taking care of seven kids by himself. and i just feel devastated. >> difficult time for that family. crisis counselor will be in somerset county public schools starting today. they'll remain there through the week to help students cope with the loss of their classmates. matt. >> thanks erin. >>> a 53-year-old woman who was kidnapped from center city is out of the hospital

all of them were killed by apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. 1200 people packed the service for rodney toddand his children at the eastern shore campus. the family was discovered dead in their princess ann home two weeks ago. family members thanked the community for their support and donation that paid for the funeral. >> you have to commend the community for what they're doing. it's not every day that you put eight people in the ground. so our family -- we're thankful. >> we're just a close-knit family. when one hurts, we all hurt. >> gas powered generator inside the home was likely responsible for the co poisoning. the family began using the generator after the electricity had been turned off. >> police are working around the clock. they're trying to solve the murder of two young children. 42-year-old bonnie black was found dead inside her home. neighbors called police after they saw her 3-year-old son wandering around outside in their pajamas. police have combed that home for clues. they have searched her estranged husband's home. >> face the nation host bob schieffer is here in washingt

friends and families say rodney todd hadn't been able to keep up with his electric bill but describehim as hard working and devoted father. >> you couldn't ask for a better father and a better man. he has had his kids for three years by himself. he did the best he could with what he had. >> so sad. police say no foul play is suspected. an official cause of death was pending a medical examiner's report today. >>> senator john mccain says he plans to run for a sixth term on capitol hill. the 78-year-old senator from as said i'm more than ready and in some ways i am eager. >> for any voter who says he is turning 80, it is a six-year term that is worrisome what do you say? >> i say watch me. take a look at my 18-hour days. take a look at the hearings we have and my legislative accomplishments. i'm just getting started. >> this year mccain landed a job as chairman of the senate armed services committee. the position gives him a bigger mega phone. >>> starbucks employees, the coffee giant is picking up the tab for college tuition. workers can have four years of tuition covered for online d

the 36-year-old rodney todd bought a gas-powered generator and installed it in the kitchen to keep his daughters warm. the power company cut electricity after it discovered that todd was using a stolen meter. >> this community and the system failed this father. it failed him. >> reporter: todd reportedly was behind on his electric bills. the power company says it cut off the house's electricity because of safety concerns over the illegal power hookup. >>> new details about a white house computer system being hacked. officials say russian hackers penetrated a nonclassified computer system for several months last year that forced the white house to shut down the system for several days. the system is used by the white house press office and several other offices that deal with private details of the president's schedule. >> there's always vulnerability. you know, the fact is, that is why we have a classified system because there is less risk on the classified system. that's secure. on the unclassified system we take regular actions to prevent vulnerabilities and enhance security. >> repo