An legal professional representing the household of a 23-year-old Connecticut faculty scholar who died final month whereas on a Bumble date hit out on the state medical expert for ruling her demise an accident brought on by a fentanyl overdose, earlier than it has been decided who gave her the medicine.
Darnell Crosland argued that Lauren Smith-Fields didn’t use medicine of any variety, and stated that her demise regarded ‘extra like a manslaughter, if not a homicide.’ He additionally referred to as on the authorities to take a better take a look at the person she was on a date with when she died, and urged them to comply with the medicine.
‘We have to discover out what occurred,’ Crosland stated in a telephone interview with DailyMail.com on Wednesday. ‘Inform us what occurred.’
The Bridgeport Police Division on Tuesday launched a prison investigation into the incident, a day after the state Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that Smith-Fields succumbed to acute intoxication as a result of mixed results of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol, and dominated her demise an accident.
Fentanyl is a extremely addictive and probably lethal artificial opioid prescribed to deal with extreme ache, whereas promethazine and hydroxyzine are allergy medicines.
The brand new probe will attempt to determine how Smith-Fields got here involved with the lethal drug.
‘‘The delay has hampered the investigation in a giant approach,’ Crosland stated of the month-and-a-half hole between Smith-Fields’ demise and the launch of the prison investigation.
The girl’s Bumble date, 37-year-old Matthew LaFountain, a design engineer, has not been charged with any crime in connection along with her demise. He has remained mum since being questioned by cops.
Crosland argued that ought to have investigated LaFountain ‘from day 1′ and picked up a DNA pattern from him to match to bodily proof that was discovered inside Smith-Fields’ condominium, however till now he claimed the authorities ‘have proven no curiosity in any respect.’
In a latest interview with Information 12 Connecticut, Crosland stated: ‘go to this gentleman’s residence, try the place this fentanyl got here from, discover out who purchased the alcohol they have been allegedly ingesting, discover out whether or not there’re any hint proof of fentanyl and different medicine on the alcohol, or within the alcohol.’
Crosland additionally challenged the medical expert’s conclusion that Smith-Fields’ demise was an accident.
‘I’ve by no means seen a medical expert conclude a mixer of medicine as an accident with out figuring out who supplied the medicine, or the way it was ingested,’ Crosland tweeted this week.
Crosland described Smith-Fields as a health mannequin who was very near her household and by no means used any medicine, not to mention a cocktail of allergy medicines and a strong opioid.
‘Nobody of their proper thoughts would individually take these medicine,’ he stated, elevating the likelihood that the medicine might have been administered to her with out her information.
‘Justice can be to seek out out precisely how these medicine acquired into Lauren’s physique,’ the legal professional stated.
Crosland welcomed the police division’s resolution to analyze Smith-Fields’ demise.
‘We’ve been at the hours of darkness. Any gentle is sweet gentle,’ he stated, including, nonetheless, that the household usually are not assured concerning the consequence.
The household have ordered an impartial post-mortem, the outcomes of that are pending. Crosland stated he and his purchasers are scheduled to fulfill with the Bridgeport police chief to debate the case.
In response to the legal professional, it might mark Chief Rebeca Garcia’s first contact with the household after their earlier, unsuccessful try to fulfill along with her earlier this month.
The household’s foremost aims are to seek out out what occurred to the fabric proof, together with a used condom and a blood-stained sheet, and to fast-track the discharge of LaFountain’s 911 name reporting Smith-Fields’ demise so they might hear his inflection.
‘We shouldn’t must guess what occurred that evening,’ Crosland stated.
Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died on account of acute intoxication brought on by a mixture of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol, and her demise was rule unintended. It’s now the topic of a prison investigation by the Narcotics and Vice Division, and the DEA
Darnell Crosland, an legal professional representing Smith-Fields’ household, claimed that she didn’t use medicine and urged the police to take a better take a look at her Bumble date
The ‘older white man’ who was on a Bumble date with 23-year-old Connecticut Lauren Smith-Fields earlier than she was discovered useless after an evening of ingesting has been revealed as Matthew LaFountain, a 37-year-old design engineer she knew for 3 days
Lakeem Jetter, Smith-Fields’ brother, was the next-to-last individual to have seen his sister alive on the evening she died, when he arrived at her Bridgeport residence to gather a basket of garments from her.
LaFountain has claimed the brother was there to drop one thing off with Lauren.
After seeing Jetter, LaFountain instructed cops Smith-Fields went to the toilet and stayed there for at the least 10 minutes, which he thought was ‘odd.’
The girl’s household beforehand expressed anger on the police, accusing them of failing to correctly examine LaFountain, regardless of his being the final individual to see Smith-Fields alive, and even allegedly shielding him from scrutiny as a result of he was a ‘good man.’
The Bridgeport Police Division introduced on Tuesday that its Narcotics and Vice Division will conduct the investigation into the girl’s fentanyl-related demise, with help from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
‘The Bridgeport Police Division continues to deal with the premature demise of Lauren Smith-Fields as an energetic investigation as we at the moment are refocusing our consideration and efforts to the components that result in her premature demise,’ Police Chief Rebeca Garcia stated in an announcement.
Lakeem Jetter, Smith-Fields’ brother, final noticed his sister on the evening of her demise, when he glided by her residence to gather a basket of garments. He stated she appeared wonderful to him
LaFountain instructed police he and Smith-Fields, whom he had identified for simply three days, spent her final evening on December 11 ingesting tequila, consuming and watching a film. The next morning, he discovered her useless on her bloodied sheets and alerted the authorities.
Previous to the discharge of Smith-Fields’ trigger and method of demise, her household accused Bridgeport police of displaying an absence of responsiveness and racial insensitivity of their dealing with of the investigation, and signaled their intention to file a lawsuit alleging civil rights violations.
On Monday, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim launched an inner investigation into the police division’s response to Smith-Fields’ demise and the company’s interactions along with her household.
‘There isn’t a tolerance for something lower than respect and sensitivity for relations and their loss,’ Ganim said. ‘To that finish, this matter has been referred to the Workplace of Inside Affairs to conduct a full and truthful investigation.’
Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim launched an inner investigation into the police division’s response to Smith-Fields’ demise
As of Tuesday, the girl’s household haven’t stated whether or not they plan to hold on with the lawsuit in gentle of the medical expert’s revelations.
The household have claimed the police took too lengthy to inform them of Smith-Fields’ demise, after which requested relations to cease calling the division for updates.
Ganim introduced he will probably be working with the Bridgeport police to replace insurance policies and practices regarding household demise notifications.
‘Dying notifications ought to be carried out in a fashion that illustrates dignity for the deceased and respect and compassion for the household,’ he stated. ‘I help and add my voice to the household, group, and elected officers who’re calling for state laws on this challenge.’
Smith-Fields was discovered useless on December 12 at her condominium in Bridgeport, the place she and LaFountain had spent the evening ingesting.
LaFountain works as a design engineer at Connecticut-based Occasions Microwave Methods – an organization which manufactures cables for the navy, aerospace and telecommunications firms. He has not been named by police as a suspect in relation to Smith-Fields’ demise. A number of makes an attempt by DailyMail.com to succeed in LaFountain have been unsuccessful.
Smith-Fields, a scholar at Norwalk Group School, and LaFountain have been hanging out and ingesting the evening earlier than she died, in accordance with a the police report obtained by Dailymail.com. LaFountain claims that at one level in the course of the night, Smith-Fields turned sick and threw up in her rest room earlier than the 2 continued ingesting tequila blended drinks.
Her brother, Lakeem Jetter, instructed Rolling Stone that a big blood stain was discovered on her mattress and he claimed that a number of different items of key proof, together with a used condom, lubricant and an unidentified tablet, have been ignored by cops.
‘The primary evening we noticed cups there, flipped plates and the lube. The cops didn’t take any of the cups to check the liquor,’ Jetter stated. ‘There was a giant stain of blood in the midst of her mattress, with streaks going to the appropriate aspect.’
Shantell Fields, Lauren Smith-Fields’ mom, speaks throughout a protest rally in entrance of the Morton Authorities Middle in Bridgeport on Sunday, which might have been Lauren’s twenty fourth birthday
Household and associates of Smith-Fields gathered for a protest march in her reminiscence in Bridgeport, demanding solutions from the authorities about policing, race and victims rights
Smith-Fields’ household have signaled their intention to sue Bridgeport Police after changing into pissed off with how they’re dealing with the case, legal professional Darnell Crosland instructed Dailymail.com, alleging the detective in command of her case instructed them to cease contacting him.
Crosland additionally stated that the detective was tired of pursuing Smith-Subject’s date as a suspect.
DailyMail.com has contacted Bridgeport Police for remark. In an announcement issued final month, performing police chief Rebecca Garcia stated the division ‘takes these considerations very significantly’. Police are nonetheless investigating her demise and the case remains to be energetic.
‘They’re ready for the post-mortem earlier than questioning anybody,’ Crosland instructed DailyMail.com previous to the medical expert’s announcement on Monday.
‘However there are components of the investigation that may be carried out with out the post-mortem. They’ll acquire the messages from Bumble. However that’s not being carried out.’
The heartbroken household of Lauren Smith-Fields (pictured) plans to sue the Metropolis of Bridgeport after they allege the native police division mishandled the investigation into her demise
The police report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that Smith-Fields requested LaFountain for $40 to get her nails carried out after which to fulfill her at her residence the place the pair reportedly took ‘photographs of tequila’.
LaFountain claims Smith-Fields turned sick and threw up in her rest room earlier than the 2 continued ingesting tequila blended drinks. They reportedly performed video games, ate meals and started watching a film when Smith-Fields allegedly acquired a textual content, went exterior to get one thing from her brother, whom LaFountain didn’t see, after which, upon her return, went into her rest room for 10 to fifteen minutes.
Her date instructed police ‘he thought it was odd, however didn’t really feel it was his place to say something as he didn’t know her that nicely,’ the incident report reportedly reads.
Lakeem Jetter, Smith-Fields’ brother, instructed Rolling Stone in an interview earlier this month that he glided by his sister’s condominium to select up a basket of his garments from her. He made no point out of dropping something off.
‘I didn’t know that anyone was in there,’ Jetter instructed the journal. ‘She got here out and he or she was on the market for like 10-Quarter-hour and he or she walked again into the home. She regarded regular. She didn’t look sick, she didn’t look drained, she didn’t look drunk.’
Afterwards, Smith-Fields and LaFountain continued to observe the film and completed the bottle of tequila earlier than she fell asleep on the sofa. LaFountain allegedly carried her to her bed room and the 2 went to mattress.
He claims he awoke round 3am to make use of the toilet and located Smith-Fields loud night breathing. Then, round 6:30am he reportedly discovered her mendacity on her proper aspect with blood popping out of her proper nostril and never respiration. He then referred to as 911.
As soon as police arrived on scene, Smith-Fields’ landlord was contacted. The owner didn’t have household contact info so it wasn’t till days later when Shantell Fields visited the unit that she discovered her daughter had died.
‘After I requested the officer concerning the man, he stated he was a really good man they usually weren’t trying into him anymore. It was nearly like he was sticking up for him and it appeared bizarre to listen to that from a detective,’ Jetter instructed NBC Connecticut.
‘He instructed me instantly on the telephone to cease calling him and hung up in my face, it was identical to whole disrespect, like that’s what you inform a household that’s going by means of grief and looking for solutions?’
Lauren Smith-Fields was discovered useless in her Bridgeport condominium on December 12, 2021, by Matthew LaFountain, who she met on the Bumble courting app.
Whereas spending the evening along with her, LaFountain reportedly awoke round 6.30am and located Smith-Fields (pictured) mendacity on her proper aspect with blood popping out of her proper nostril and never respiration. He then referred to as 911
Jetter additionally alleged police weren’t thorough of their preliminary crime scene investigation, noting that whereas officers confiscated her telephone, passport and $1,345 in money, they uncared for to gather different items of potential proof.
He instructed Rolling Stone they discovered a used condom within the trash, lubricant, bloody sheets on her mattress and an unidentified tablet within the unit.
‘The primary evening we noticed cups there, flipped plates and the lube. The cops didn’t take any of the cups to check the liquor,’ stated Jetter. ‘There was a giant stain of blood in the midst of her mattress, with streaks going to the appropriate aspect.’
Smith-Fields’ mom additionally claims the officers made her really feel as if the investigation was ‘not vital.’
‘The way in which they talked to me, the best way they’ve talked to the household, how they handled my daughter, they handled her like she was no person, like she was not vital,’ Shantell Smith instructed the TV station.
The household’s legal professional alleged police usually don’t prioritize investigation involving black ladies.
‘We have now seen the quantity of assets which have gone to different circumstances involving lacking white ladies like Gabby Petito and we all know so many black lady are lacking a lot on this nation,’ legal professional Darnell Crosland stated. ‘Everyone seems to be talking out, everyone seems to be insulted with the best way the Bridgeport police and the Bridgeport metropolis has handled us.’
The household plan to rent a non-public investigator to look into the case. Meantime, they’ve paid for an impartial post-mortem of Smith-Fields’ physique.
Smith-Fields was discovered useless in her Bridgeport condominium (pictured) on December 12 after an evening of ingesting by Matthew LaFountain, a person she met on a courting app referred to as Bumble. Greater than a month later ‘her reason for demise is pending additional research’
Her family members declare police didn’t pursue LaFountain as a suspect, failed to gather what they consider to be important proof from the scene and instructed the household to cease calling concerning the case (Pictured L to R: Unamed relative, mom Shantell Smith, brother Lakeem Jetter and legal professional Darnell Crosland)
The household have a number of considerations with the incident report, Rolling Stone reported.
‘I haven’t texted my sister since December 4,’ Jetter stated, noting that he did name Smith-Fields on the evening of December 11 to deliver out a basket of garments he was selecting up.
Her mom additionally claims that Smith-Fields had gotten her nails carried out earlier that week and that she wouldn’t have wanted to get them carried out once more. Fields additionally famous that her nails have been ‘nonetheless so intact’ they didn’t have to be carried out for her funeral.
Crosland, who’s representing Smith-Fields’ household, stated he’s searching for justice for the deceased lady.
‘We’re suing the town of Bridgeport for failure to prosecute and failure to guard this household beneath the 14th Modification,’ Crosland stated. He’s planning to evoke the portion of the Structure that gives equal safety beneath the legislation for all residents, together with black individuals.
‘It’s occurring all too usually with black women lacking throughout this world, throughout this nation, and nobody says something,’ the lawyer stated. ‘When a white lady goes lacking, the entire world drops all the pieces. We’re carried out with this valuation.’
He added: ‘We would like an impartial investigation by an impartial state company or federal company to look into this case. We would like the DOJ like once they must step in for circumstances like a Mike Brown, this household has to proceed to take care of the lack of their cherished one, work they usually shouldn’t have to do this when they’re hard-working tax-payers.’
Lawyer Darnell Crosland (pictured on left with Shantell Fields), who’s representing Smith-Fields’ household, stated he’s searching for justice for the deceased lady. He stated: ‘We’re suing the town of Bridgeport for failure to prosecute and failure to guard this household beneath the 14th Modification’ and claims this occurs ‘all too usually with black women’
A makeshift memorial has been arrange exterior Smith-Fields’ condominium and a GoFundMe established to assist the household fund their non-public investigation. The household can be planning a citywide march to boost consciousness concerning the case and demand justice for his or her cherished one
Crosland claims Bridgeport police have issued their condolences, however solely after the case was delivered to their consideration by the media.
‘We see them now providing their condolences after reporters have been asking them for questions and after we hear about it, it’s like a slap within the face, we don’t need excuses, we wish solutions,’ he stated. ‘I’ve no religion within the Bridgeport Police Division, we have now been disrespected they usually didn’t deal with our cherished one’s case like they need to have as quickly as this occurred.’
Bridgeport Police launched the next assertion to NBC Connecticut final week:
‘On December 12, 2021, the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Middle acquired a name for service relating to an premature demise. Upon police arrival, it was discovered that [Smith Fields] handed away unexpectedly. This incident is at the moment being investigated by the Bridgeport Police Division’s Detective Bureau. This investigation stays open and energetic. The Detective Bureau is awaiting the ultimate report from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Workplace for trigger and method of demise of Ms. Smith-Fields. The Bridgeport Police Division affords it’s sincerest condolences to the household and associates of Ms. Lauren Smith-Fields. We encourage anybody with info relating to this incident to contact both Detective-Sergeant Joseph Morales at 203-581-5219 or the Bridgeport Police TIPS line at 203-576-8477.’
In the meantime, a makeshift memorial has been arrange exterior Smith-Fields’ condominium and a GoFundMe established to assist the household fund their non-public investigation.
Fields and Jetter are additionally planning to carry a citywide march on Sunday afternoon to boost consciousness concerning the case and demand justice for his or her cherished one.
‘We would like justice, we wish solutions, I imply no matter occurred occurred that evening, we need to know and we need to really feel like they care as a lot as we care,’ stated Jetter.
‘I by no means thought one thing like this may occur the place you lose a member of the family and we’re handled such as you don’t exist so we’re going to guarantee this metropolis remembers Lauren Smith-Fields.’
‘I miss my daughter and I see her in all the pieces that I do and it pains me to know that I’ll by no means get to see her once more,’ echoed Fields.
