A coroner says the summer swelter killed a southwestern Illinois man who was found dead in his home where a window air-conditioning unit had been shut down to save money.
Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn says the body of 63-year-old Jerry Besterfeldt was found Wednesday morning by his live-in girlfriend in their Alton home.
Nonn says the girlfriend slept in the living room in front of the fan while Besterfeldt slept in the bedroom.
The coroner says his staff recorded Besterfeldt's core body temperature to be 104 degrees. The room temperature was nearly 94 degrees, even after the overnight cooling.
Screenings of Besterfeldt's blood are pending.
