NC mom advocates for speedier toxicology, autopsy results in fentanyl overdoses

CHARLOTTE — A lady whose daughter died after being drugged with fentanyl is bringing consciousness to a backlog in toxicology and post-mortem stories in North Carolina, which leaves grieving households ready.

“She was a graduate of App State,” mentioned Barbara Walsh. “She was a profitable businesswoman. She was on the lookout for a house to buy. She had $20,000 saved up.”

Sophia Walsh was 24 years outdated when she moved to Charlotte.

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The younger lady died in August 2021 and her full toxicology report was accomplished 5 months later, which revealed she died from fentanyl poisoning.

“She died of 8.4 nanograms of fentanyl and that is sufficient to kill 4 individuals,” her mom informed Channel 9.

Investigators informed Walsh the drug possible got here from a drink laced with fentanyl. Walsh mentioned expenses towards the individual accountable have been by no means pursued.

“They’ve closed her case due to the shortage of correct investigation originally throughout the first 24 hours,” Walsh mentioned.

She doesn’t need the identical factor to occur to different households.

“We don’t know what killed our child,” Walsh mentioned.

Walsh is now the chief director of the Fentanyl Victims Community of North Carolina and desires one thing accomplished about how lengthy it takes to get post-mortem and toxicology stories again.

All toxicology stories are accomplished on the Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh.

Channel 9′s investigation into the backlog discovered these stories can take six months or as much as a yr in some circumstances, which may delay or stop legislation enforcement from pursuing expenses.

“In the event that they don’t provide you with an post-mortem, and extra importantly the toxicology report, then you definately don’t have a case,” Walsh mentioned.

Regulation enforcement and prosecutors within the Charlotte space have informed Channel 9 it’s an issue.

The health worker’s workplace attributes the backlog to staffing and an increase in circumstances.

Walsh wrote a letter to Lawyer Common Josh Stein asking whether or not among the opioid settlement cash the state acquired might fund extra chemists within the ME’s workplace or course of stories faster.

“You would assist these households who’re dying from this,” Walsh mentioned.

VIDEO: Companies push for regional health worker’s workplace to assist scale back post-mortem backlog

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