Two dead at Fresno Motel 6 in hazardous materials situation

Fresno police are investigating a possible double suicide or a murder-suicide at Motel 6 on Blackstone Avenue north of Ashlan Avenue.

Just before 5 p.m. Friday, a man and a woman were found dead in a room when a maintenance worker checked the room after smelling "toxic fumes," chief Jerry Dyer said, describing the smell as "sulfuric acid."

It was originally thought the two victims were women, Fresno police said.

The two were found near the bathroom door with respirator masks on and there was some sort of a chemical-making process inside the hotel room, Dyer said.

It is unknown how long they were deceased in the room.

Dyer said homicide investigators are handling the case but the possibility of an accidental death also is being considered.

Besides the update on the gender of the victims, no new information was available Saturday, police said. The ages and names of the victims were not available.

Dyer said contact information of possible family members was found in the hotel room. Investigators are looking into why the information was left.

A total of six people, including motel maintenance workers, were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not known.

Blackstone Avenue was closed from Ashlan Avenue to Gettysburg Avenue while health and law enforcement officials conducted their investigation. The motel is at 4245 N. Blackstone Ave.