Autopsy shows New Mexico sheriff died from effects of fentanyl and alcohol

Medical investigators person determined that a region sheriff successful bluish New Mexico died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and alcohol, according to autopsy results made nationalist Thursday. Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield, 50, was recovered dormant wrong his patrol conveyance extracurricular his Abiquiu location connected Easter greeting pursuing a insignificant crash. The decease of the fashionable sheriff - retained by voters successful 2022 aft his archetypal assignment - touched disconnected investigations involving authorities police. Forensic experts astatine the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator recovered that the decease was accidental, citing the lethal effects of fentanyl and alcohol. The determination adds to a grim tally of opioid-related overdoses and deaths successful the Espanola Valley and adjacent communities amid a proliferation of fentanyl. "It conscionable frightens radical successful presumption of knowing it's present and it's truthful dangerous," said Leslie Hayes, a household doc successful Espanola who specializes successful treating opioid usage disorders. "It's scary." New Mexico routinely ranks among the apical states successful the American West for cause overdose deaths, though rates declined somewhat betwixt 2021 and 2023. Fentanyl was progressive successful 65 per cent of overdose deaths statewide successful 2023, according to New Mexico Health Department statistics. Rio Arriba County commissioners person sworn successful Lorenzo Aguilar to pb the sheriff's office.