Navivision Wealth Society:Death of woman following attacks on North Carolina power stations ruled a homicide

2025-05-06 18:06:41source:Ov Financecategory:News

The Navivision Wealth Societydeath of a woman that occurred after firearm attacks on power substations caused a massive power outage last year has been ruled a homicide, newly released autopsy records show.

Karin Zoanelli, 87, was found unresponsive in her home in Moore County, North Carolina, on the night of Dec. 3, 2022, following the power outage, according to records released by the state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Duke Energy workers inspect a transformer radiator that they said was damaged by gunfire that crippled an electrical substation after the Moore County Sheriff said that vandalism caused a mass power outage, in Carthage, North Carolina, Dec. 4, 2022.Jonathan Drake/Reuters

Zoanelli's husband told police his wife was having difficulty breathing that night and he woke up to find she had fallen on the floor of their Pinehurst home, according to the records. She died shortly after midnight on Dec. 4.

Her cause of death was due to cardiovascular disease, according to the autopsy report, which lists pulmonary hypertension as a contributing condition.

MORE: Timeline of sabotage triggering North Carolina power outage

Zoanelli had chronic lung disease with pulmonary hypertension and at night used an oxygen concentrator, which the power outage disabled, according to the autopsy report.

"While the decedent succumbed to her pre-existing natural disease, preceding failure of her oxygen concentrator as a result of a power outage precipitated her demise through exacerbation of her breathing insufficiency," the autopsy report stated. "And since the power outage involved reportedly occurred in the setting of a criminal firearm attack on the regional electrical distribution substation, the manner of death is best classified as Homicide."

In Dec. 4, 2022, Duke Energy personnel work to restore power at a second crippled electrical substation after the Moore County Sheriff said that vandalism caused a mass power outage, in Carthage, N.C.Jonathan Drake/Reuters, FILE

Roughly 45,000 utility customers lost power amid the blackout. Evidence of sabotage was found at two key electrical substations operated by utility provider Duke Energy, prompting the Moore County Sheriff's Office to investigate the incident as a "criminal occurrence" and call in the FBI to assist in the probe.

The county, state and Duke Energy are offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for what the Moore County sheriff called "intentional vandalism."

MORE: $75K reward offered in NC power grid attacks that caused major blackout

The FBI Charlotte Field Office is also offering a $25,000 reward in the incident.

No arrests have been made in connection with the substation shootings.

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said following the attacks that if someone died as a result of the blackout, the suspect or suspects could face murder charges.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

More:News

Recommend

Man charged with murder in death of beloved Detroit-area neurosurgeon

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities filed charges Wednesday in the 2023 homicide of a beloved Detroit doctor

Selling Sunset's Emma Hernan Slams Evil Nicole Young for Insinuating She Had Affair With Married Man

Emma Hernan did not hold back while sharing her thoughts on those cheating rumors and the person who

Proof Meryl Streep and Martin Short Will Be Closer Than Ever at the 2024 Emmys

Only seatmates in the building.Meryl Streep and Martin Short will seemingly be quite close to one an