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College Students' Deaths Ruled Accidental Overdoses


By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 25, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 25, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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The Medical Examiner's office confirmed that Mellie Carballo and Maria Pesantez, the 18 year-old college students whose deaths made city health and police officials wonder if there was a citywide "bad heroin" epidemic, died of heroin and cocaine overdoses - with no evidence that the drugs were tainted. The deaths were called accidental, but police are still investigating the four other overdose deaths during a two week period; the Daily News adds there may be a seventh death related to this recent spate of ODs.

Over last weekend, the families of the girls struggled with the news that their daughters probably died of drug overdoses, saying, "This was a crime, a murder," and friends are still stunned and confused. The two men who were partying with Carballo and Pesantez had been arrested for unrelated incidents, and it's unclear if they will be connected to the deaths.

Tagged

cocaine

college

crime

daily news

death

drugs

friends

health

heroin

Maria Pesantez

Medical Examiner

Mellie Carballo

murder

news

News: NYC

police


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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