The family of former swimming champion Jamie Cail, who died of a suspected fentanyl overdose in the US Virgin Islands, claims she was beaten and that her death was not an accident.
Local police have said the 42-year-old woman, from New Hampshire, allegedly died of “fentanyl poisoning with aspiration of gastric contents”, meaning particles from her stomach entered her lungs.
But Cail’s family disputes the conclusion that his death was “accidental”.
“We know that Jamie did not intentionally ingest fentanyl. There is definitely foul play,” Jessica DeVries, who identified herself as a cousin and representative of the family, told Insider.
The family shared graphic post-mortem photographs of Cail’s body with the news outlet showing his apparently badly bruised left eye and a mark on his nose.
“His face is destroyed. “Did fentanyl do that to you?” DeVries told Insider. “Jamie’s face was smashed in, the top of his skull and his nose.”
Police said he died of “fentanyl intoxication with aspiration of gastric contents.”
He said the family “decided to post the photo because we need everyone to understand that Jamie was not on fentanyl, that she had actually been beaten.”
DeVries criticized the official discovery as an “atrocity,” insisting that photographs taken of Cail’s body by a family liaison in March after the autopsy show that “someone put their hands on Jamie.”
Virgin Islands police and the medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
The family says post-mortem photos show evidence of a brutal beating. Facebook / Gary Cail
Former New York City Chief Medical Examiner Michael Baden told the outlet that the photos show “trauma” that occurred before Cail died, but said it was not “definitive evidence of a beating or the cause of death”.
The injuries could have been the result of “a blow to the eye or a blow to the scalp” and “could have occurred in different ways,” the forensic pathologist told the outlet.
Police cited an Aug. 22 autopsy report from the Virgin Islands Medical Examiner.
Cail’s boyfriend, who has not been identified, found her on the floor of her home on February 21 after returning from a bar around midnight, according to police.
Cail died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, according to authorities in the US Virgin Islands. Getty Images
He and a friend took her to the Myrah Keating-Smith Community Health Center, but were unable to save her.
“We want transparency and we want justice,” DeVries told Insider, adding that the family feels “completely failed” by the police.
“Jamie did not use fentanyl or opiates of any kind. She didn’t do drugs,” she said. “She was a national and international swimmer who deserves that honor because she was incredible and she dedicated her life to that.”
Cail was widely considered a swimming prodigy. Facebook / Jamie Cail
Cail won a gold medal in the 800 freestyle relay as part of Team USA at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships.
During the 1998-99 Swimming World Cup in Brazil, he took home a silver in the 800 freestyle as a member of the United States National B Swimming Team.
Cail also won the California high school championship in the 200-meter individual medley and 500 free. He also swam at the University of Southern California and the University of Maine.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn