April 08--A Northern California man tried to kill himself and his children by poisoning with exhaust fumes from a running vehicle, sheriff's officials said.
Charles Lee Ewers, 38, of Carmichael was taken into custody Tuesday after he was released from an area hospital, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
Ewers has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder and child endangerment in connection with the beating of his children before an attempt to kill them.
Authorities said they received a call from the custodial parent about 9 p.m. Saturday after the two children, ages 8 and 10, had not returned home from their scheduled visit with Ewers.
When deputies went to Ewers' home, it was dark and no one answered the front door.
But authorities said deputies heard a car engine running inside the home's garage.
Deputies forced their way into the garage and found the vehicle running with a hose attached from the exhaust pipe to the inside of the car, the sheriff's department said.
They immediately removed the hose, opened a car door and found the two children, who were semi-conscious, according to the sheriff's department. Ewers was also in the car and was removed, the sheriff's department said.
The children suffered significant physical trauma because Ewers beat them before placing them in the backseat of his car, sheriff's officials said.
