Bridgeport, Connecticut police have opened a criminal investigation into Lauren SmithFields’s death. She was 23 years old and died in mid-December.Monday’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that her death was accidental due to acute intoxication. The combination of alcohol, promethazine, and fentanyl caused her to become ill. Bridgeport PD announced Tuesday that fentanyl had been found in her system. The investigation will be led by the Narcotics and Vice Division, with the assistance of the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration.
“The Bridgeport Police Department continues to treat the untimely death of Lauren Smith-Fields as an active investigation as we are now refocusing our attention and efforts to the factors that lead to her untimely death,”Rebeca Garcia, chief of police, made the statement in a statement.
Smith-Fields became unresponsive on Dec. 12, after a Bumble meeting at her apartment. Matthew Lafountain was her date. Lafountain called 911 to report that Smith-Fields wasn’t responding and was bleeding from her nose. Smith-Field’s family — who learned of her death days later, after finding a note from the landlord on the door — say they found a used condom with semen and an unidentified pill in her apartment. (Lafountain is not suspected in the case and was not charged. Rolling Stone (He was unable to reach him for comment.
Smith-Fields’ family has described communication with detectives as unprofessional and scarce. “How they spoke to us was disgusting,” said Shantell Fields, Lauren Smith-Fields’ mother, who accused them of “hanging up the phone and telling us to stop calling.”
On Jan. 21, Smith-Fields’ family’s lawyer Darnell Crosland issued an intent to sue the Bridgeport police department. “After my client’ s family forced the BPD to collect the pill found in the apartment, the condom, and the bloody sheet, as of today, those items have not been submitted to the State Laboratory for forensic analysis,”Crosland wrote. Crosland continued to state that an officer was removed from the case. “is now under investigation by the Bridgeport Internal of Affairs Division.”Crosland did no immediate return a request to comment on Tuesday.
Joe Ganim (the Mayor of Bridgeport) also released a statement, offering condolences and stating that he had reached out to the State Medical Examiner to expedite matters so that an investigation could continue and that detectives could give a report.
“I share concerns echoed by many about the amount of time and manner a family is informed of a loss,”Ganim. “ Death notifications should be done in a manner that illustrates dignity for the deceased and respect and compassion for the family. Therefore, I will work with the Chief of Police to make appropriate changes here in Bridgeport – now – for our department’s policies and practices regarding notifying family members of a death. I support and add my voice to the family, community, and elected officials who are calling for state legislation on this issue.”