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Aspen — A family of four that succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in an Aspen-area home on the Thanksgiving holiday likely died within minutes of being exposed to the gas, based on preliminary findings released Wednesday.

The level of carbon monoxide in the Popcorn Lane residence was estimated at about 5,000 parts per million (ppm) at the time of the incident. The estimation was based on a test completed at the home within the past two days, Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis said.

At that level, the family probably died in about 10 to 20 minutes.

A disconnected exhaust pipe that stretched from the boiler to a chimney flute appears to be how the gas infiltrated the home.

Braudis also said investigators did not locate a carbon monoxide detector in the home where the bodies of Parker Lofgren, 39; his wife, Caroline, 42; and their children, Owen, 10, and Sophie, 8, were discovered.

"We don't believe there was one," Braudis said. "We have not found one."

A Pitkin County building code required homes to have one carbon monoxide detector, though it was not specific regarding the location.

Pitkin County since has strengthened its law regarding carbon monoxide detectors. The regulation requires all residential property owners to install and maintain CO detectors in their buildings - one near each bedroom and one located generally one each level of the structure.

Once the investigation is completed, which Braudis said was nearly done, the sheriff's office will give its findings to the district attorney's office in Aspen. Braudis said he was curious to see if the office determines "whether there are elements leading to negligent homicide or not."