Bumble date who named in Lauren Smith-Fields’ dying cooperating with investigation
BRIDGEPORT — A lawyer representing the very last gentleman to see Lauren Smith-Fields alive declined to respond to distinct concerns about the situation Thursday but claimed his consumer is cooperating with the law enforcement probe of her death.
The law firm, Peter Karayiannis, confirmed he was symbolizing Matthew LaFountain, the person named in the police report on the scenario.
LaFountain experienced formerly been publicly recognized by Smith-Fields’ household but not by law enforcement officers.
“He’s not going to be building any statements,” Karayiannis mentioned about his client.
In the weeks considering that her death, Smith-Fields’ household and their law firm have criticized the first police investigation, stating LaFountain need to have been treated as a suspect or human being of desire. Law enforcement have not discovered everyone as a man or woman of interest or suspect and have not billed any individual in relationship with the scenario.
A professional medical examiner on Monday dominated Smith-Fields’ dying an accidental overdose of a mix of fentanyl, prescription medications, and alcohol.
The family members intends to sue the city, stating they did not find out about her loss of life until eventually her landlord knowledgeable them much more than 24 several hours later on.
Although he wouldn’t examine the particulars of the scenario Thursday, Karayiannis reported his consumer has not dominated out having lawful motion of his possess.
“It’s still far too early to notify in regards to that,” the attorney claimed.
He also said his customer is not married and in his 50s as he has been described by other folks, but is single and in his 30s.
In accordance to a law enforcement report, LaFountain, who Smith-Fields satisfied by means of the courting application Bumble, known as police just soon after 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 when he claimed waking up and acquiring her on the floor and not respiration, with blood close to her nostril.
The guy, who was “frantic,” according to the report, informed law enforcement the two experienced been ingesting the night time before.
Health-related staff pronounced Smith-Fields useless at 6:49 a.m.
On Tuesday, Bridgeport police declared its narcotics and vice squad would be investigating the case in addition to the department’s detective bureau. Police also reported they’d check with for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s enable.
Law enforcement did not reply to issues Thursday about the man’s position in the investigation at this stage.
Karayiannis offered condolences to Smith-Fields’ family on the man’s behalf and mentioned his shopper cooperated with the police “for several hours” the day Smith-Fields died.
He declined to say no matter whether he has been interviewed since.
LaFountain told law enforcement the two had been drinking tequila the night just before when Smith-Fields became sick. Later on, she went outside the house for a couple minutes after texting with a person she claimed was her brother, then went straight to the toilet for about 10 to 15 minutes, in accordance to the man’s account as pointed out in the police report.
He said he took Smith-Fields to bed soon after she fell asleep, woke up close to 3 a.m. and heard her snoring, but then woke up about 6:30 a.m. and she was unresponsive.
According to the report, a medic estimated she experienced been useless for “at least an hour or more.”
“It’s an ongoing investigation,” Karayiannis claimed. “I have no remark about that.”
A spokesperson for Smith-Fields’ spouse and children did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, nor did their attorney.
