 Malmquist was transported to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital,
where the attending emergency room doctor pronounced Malmquist's
death at 1:41 p.m.On Thursday evening this week, Logan County
Coroner Robert Thomas conducted an inquest into the student's death.
Malmquist's father and aunt were in attendance, as well as
several administrative staff members from Lincoln College.
Thomas instructed a jury of six and one alternate that they would
be presented pertinent information concerning the victim's death in
order for them to arrive at the cause and manner of death.
Information given to the jurors would be based on facts to assist
them in this part of their decision. They were provided the
circumstances, medical evidence, toxicology and autopsy results, and
were encouraged to ask questions.
Thomas explained that the cause of death is either by a disease
or injury. The "cause" is what is responsible for the fatality.
Jurors would also need to determine the manner of death, or how
the death took place.
The manner of death falls into five
categories:
-
Natural death is
by disease or natural cause.
-
Accidental death
is from circumstances not intentionally caused by the deceased
or by another person.
-
Homicide is a
death resulting by circumstances intentionally caused by another
person to the deceased.
-
Suicide is when
death results from circumstances intentionally caused by the
deceased.
-
Undetermined death can be ruled when
none of the above can be established with reasonable certainty.
Thomas called forward two people involved in the investigation.
First was Deputy Coroner Doug Brooks.
Brooks said he was not called to the scene at the time. He
handled paperwork duties, including reviewing the postmortem
examination.
Board-certified pathologist Dr. John W. Ralston conducted an
autopsy on Oct. 19, 2011, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Brooks said that he made several calls to Dr. Ralston and his
attendant to clarify information in the report.
Toxicology studies reflected:
-
Blood ethanol, or
blood alcohol level: 0.128
-
Urine ethanol:
0.286 alcohol
-
Vitreous (eye fluid) ethanol: 0.169
alcohol
For comparison, the legal blood alcohol limit for driving in
Illinois is .08. Malmquist's alcohol levels exceeded safe alcohol
limits by multiples in all of the tests.
Also, a drug blood screen of the victim's blood was conducted.
Those results showed free morphine, dyphenhydramine (Benadryl) and
dymenthahydramate (Dramamine) in his system.
Found in the urine drug test screen were a marijuana metabolite,
opiate metabolites, morphine, codeine, 6-Monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM),
dyphenhydramine, nicotine and nicotine metabolites.
Free morphine was at 82 nanograms per milliliter, which is
slightly above therapeutic level, but not at a toxic level.
Benadryl and Dramamine were also above therapeutic levels, but
not at toxic levels.
Specific measurements were provided for Delta
9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a marijuana metabolite; the opium
metabolites; codeine; and a heroin-specific metabolite.
"Because none of these were at a toxic level," Brooks said he
asked the pathologist about it. It was the pathologist's opinion
"that a combination of those drugs, added to the alcohol in his
system, was critical to the death of this individual. It was the
combination of those drugs, and in particular with alcohol."
Concerning the physical examination, Ralston concluded that death
was caused by pulmonary congestion and severe edema with foam in the
airway.
Ralston said that Malmquist's brain shut down due to the
combination of the drugs and alcohol in his system. The congestion
and edema were a symptom of the brain shutting down, causing fluid
to collect in his airway.
It was also found that the left ventricle of the heart was
enlarged.
There was a small amount of particulate matter in the stomach.
Other observations about the victim's body were that he had
multiple superficial abrasions and contusions that were healing.
There was no evidence of recent trauma.
In conclusion, based on toxicology and physical examination, Dr.
Ralston's opinion was that the cause of death was opiate, alcohol
and diphenhydramine intoxication.
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Jurors asked about what the particulate in the stomach was, the
victim's size, if the injuries could have been caused during
resuscitation or otherwise on that day, and if he had a pulse when
found.
Brooks said Ralston explained that the particulate was
undissolved fragments of a pill or pills that were not digested. The
victim weighed 170 pounds and was 73 inches in length. The
contusions would not have been caused that day; they were healing.
It was not known if there was a pulse when he was found.
Malmquist's airway was clogged, and he was not able to breathe. He
was transported from his room to the hospital, where he was
pronounced dead.
Detective Paul Adams of the Lincoln Police Department was called
to give testimony, though he was limited in what he could say.
Liquor and packaging for heroin use were present in the room. The
evidence was turned over the Logan County state's attorney's office.
A criminal investigation began in regard to the heroin found in the
victim's system.
Adams said that witness statements were taken and a full
investigation was conducted that is ongoing.
As part of the investigation, it was learned that the victim was
in Missouri over the weekend. While he was there, he was in a fight
on Friday night and taken to the hospital. It was said that he had
alcohol in his system then, but he left the hospital before seeing
any doctor.
Paramedics were called and arrived at the victim's dormitory room
on the following Tuesday afternoon. When paramedics arrived, a
friend was trying to resuscitate Malmquist.
The jurors adjourned to discuss the case. Six jurors met
together, with one alternate remaining outside the discussion on
standby.
Return of a verdict
After about 45 minutes of deliberation, the jurors returned with
a statement. Their decision was that they found the cause of
Malmquist's death to be opiate, alcohol and diphenhydramine
intoxication, which was the result of substance abuse; and the
manner of his death was found to be accidental.
Since the death was ruled accidental, the stipulation was added
that it would have been avoidable if the deceased had avoided using
alcohol and drugs.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Following the inquest, Lincoln College released the following
statement:
(Copy)
We'd prefer that
Brett's time at Lincoln College is remembered by how he lived while
he was here, not by how he died. During Brett's memorial service,
many of his peers spoke of him as kind-hearted, open-minded,
hard-working and humorous. Considering Brett was only here for a
short time, it is quite a feat to leave such a glowing, positive
impression amongst his peers.
Lincoln College
would like to reiterate our cooperation with authorities in the
investigation into Brett's death. We have worked very closely with
the Lincoln Police Department and the Logan County Coroner's office
in recent months in this matter and will continue to assist as
needed. We've found the investigation to be thorough and
professional at all levels.
Like most other
colleges and universities, Lincoln College has dedicated resources
to educating students about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse,
through programming in our residence halls and in discussions in our
class rooms.
Also like other
colleges and universities, we have strict policies against the use
of drugs and alcohol on our campus. We will continue to be
pro-active in drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
In conclusion, we
hope that the results of the inquest, while tragic, can help our
campus take the next step in the grieving process. As our students,
faculty and staff pursue a sense of closure, we continue to keep
Brett's family and friends in our thoughts and prayers going
forward.
___
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