By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWTONSVILLE - A father and his 4-year-old son died Thursday in this small Wayne Township village, apparently overcome by fumes or smoke from a smoldering fire in their home.

Michael Coogan, 34, and his son Shane were pronounced dead shortly after emergency personnel arrived at their small yellow house on Ohio 131 about 2 p.m. Lucinda Coogan discovered the bodies of her husband and son and called authorities, officials said.

She had left the house earlier in the day to run errands. Two school-age daughters also were not home at the time of the fire, officials said.

Clermont County Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg Jr. said linens or clothing may have caught fire inside the home.

"The deaths were apparently not caused by burning, but by asphyxiation through the smoke or fumes," he said, adding that Michael Coogan was found on the floor of the living room. Shane was found on the couch.

Sheriff Rodenberg said an exact cause of the fire had yet to be determined. He speculated that a cigarette, or a child playing with matches, might have ignited linen, bedding or a blanket.

"We don't know at this point but that appears to be the origin," the sheriff said. "The home was not gutted. The damage was minimal."

The situation was made worse, he said, because none of the windows in the home was open because of the cold.

Some rear windows were blown out, possibly by heat, he said, adding that the blaze apparently extinguished itself.

Rodenberg said the fire could have smoldered for as long as seven hours. He does not suspect foul play.

"It looks like a tragic accident," he said.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com