The death of a Connecticut woman while on a date with a man she met online was caused by drugs & alcohol & has been ruled an accident, the state chief medical examiner’s office said.
The family of the 23-year-old woman, Lauren Smith-Fields, had complained authorities were not giving the investigation enough attention because she was Black.
Bridgeport police said Tuesday that its narcotics & vice division, with help from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, is investigating to see if any crimes were committed & if anyone should be charged.
“We are now refocusing our attention & efforts to the factors that (led) to her untimely death,” acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia said.
Smith-Fields died Dec. 12 from “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine & alcohol” & her death was accidental, the medical examiner’s office said Monday. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid. Promethazine and hydroxyzine are antihistamines used to treat allergies.
She was found in her Bridgeport apartment after the man she was with called police to say he awoke to find her unresponsive.
Smith-Field’s family said police never notified them of her death, which they learned about more than a day later through a note left on her apartment door by her landlord. A detective eventually asked them to stop calling, they said. The family’s attorney, Darnell Crosland, has notified the city of his intent to file a lawsuit accusing police of failing to properly investigate.
“The police department has been racially insensitive to this family & has treated this family with no respect & has violated their civil rights,” Crosland wrote.
Crosland posted a statement on Twitter late Monday questioning the medical examiner’s finding that Smith-Fields’ death was an accident.
#laurensmithfields #laurensmithfieldsdeadat23 #laurensmithfieldsoverdose #laurensmithfieldsdeathsuspicious #onlinedate #onlinedating #bumble #bumbledate #drugoverdose #suspiciousdeath #mysteriousdeath #murder #homicide #policenegligence #connecticut #bridgeportct #criminalinvestigation #influencer #socialmedia #daughter #mom #mother #motheranddaughter
Source: AP
Follow Me
}
Comments