A third person has died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Newburgh more than a week after a couple in the same apartment building passed away.

On March 4, Jewell Cummings, 65, collapsed and died in her basement apartment at 55 Landers St. The retired bus driver's death was thought to be caused by a heart attack, but a day later, her longtime companion, 63-year-old Robert Richardson, was found dead inside the same apartment.

James Patterson, who lived on the second floor, and nine other residents were evacuated and rushed to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning. Patterson fell into a coma before being taken off life support at St. Luke's Hospital Friday.

Neighbors described Patterson as a friendly man who loved to go fishing, and was also committed to his local mosque.

There is no word yet on any funeral arrangements for Patterson.

Officials say a blocked chimney caused the building to fill up with the lethal, odorless gas. The building apparently has no carbon monoxide detectors.