Authorities probe Estero teen's nightclub overdose while family mourns loss of second child
The father of a teenager who died last month following an overdose linked to a Fort Myers nightclub is mourning her loss, saying her brother's 2019 death impacted her, while the family waits for the toxicology results and the results of a criminal investigation.
Ava Hulett, 19, died June 15 from an apparent overdose after she gathered with friends at Pelican Larry's Raw Bar and Grill, in Fort Myers. She is the second sibling the family has lost since 2019 after her brother died aged 15 in 2019.
Attempts to reach Pelican Larry's Raw Bar and Grill for comment by phone were not successful Monday. An automated message indicated the business mailbox is full.
The business did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Monday morning.
In response to a public records request into Hulett's death, the Lee County Sheriff's Office provided an arrest report for Olivia Ein-Sun Fu, 22, who faces narcotics charges. Fu has not been formally charged in Hulett's death.
A 19-year-old who suddenly dies after she went out to a nightclub with friends caused chatter across social media platforms, leading The News-Press to look into the details.
According to Fu's arrested report, she was detained along Terminal Access Road, near Southwest Florida International Airport, in Fort Myers, on June 17 after Lee County sheriff's deputies say the car she was in committed a traffic infraction.
The sheriff's office said the traffic stop led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia.
When they performed the traffic stop, authorities said, Fu was riding in the passenger seat. The driver's identity is redacted in the report.
The sheriff's office said the driver turned the Jeep off and walked to the back of the vehicle, where authorities explained to him the reason for the traffic stop. That portion of the report is redacted.
Meanwhile, the sheriff's office said, a detective and their K9 performed a sniff of the Jeep, pointing to the presence of narcotics.
A detective on scene searched the Jeep and found an orange pill bottle containing several white, oval pills and a white, powdery substance. The white powdery substance tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.
Authorities said the white pills nearby also tested positive for fentanyl. The report later says they also found marijuana.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is a "potent synthetic opioid drug" approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as pain relief and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin as an analgesic.
The sheriff's office said the items were inside a black backpack, found in the backseat of the vehicle. Inside the backpack, authorities found identifying documents, to include a wallet with Fu's driver's license, college student ID card, and several credit cards as well as her U.S. passport.
The report did not indicate where Fu attends college.
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The sheriff's office concluded Fu does not possess a valid medical marijuana card inFlorida.
The report says Fu was then taken to the sheriff's office headquarters for questioning. The context around the questioning is redacted in the report.
The sheriff's office released Fu's drug trafficking arrest report in response to a July 9 public records request from The News-Press into the June 15 overdose death of Ava Hulett, 19.
Samantha Syoen, spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office, 20th Judicial Circuit, said the drug trafficking case against Fu is under review by Assistant State Attorney Steven Vitale.
The News-Press asked Syoen if Fu is being probed for Hulett's death, but she declined comment.
"I can’t verify any other info in your email as I have just provided the extent of what is public record at this time," Syoen wrote in an emailed response to the request.
Fu's arraignment on the drug trafficking charges is set July 22.
Ava Hulett's overdose death probed while family mourns loss of second child
According to the incident report linked to Hulett's death, when Lee County sheriff's deputies arrived at Hulett's Estero home, she lay unresponsive on the floor.
First responders confirmed her death around 12:30 p.m. June 15. Homicide detectives then took over the probe, the report says.
Ava Hulett's father, James Hulett, said the family awaits her toxicology report, which could take up to two more weeks. He said that as of Thursday authorities had not determined the cause of death.
Second tragedy befalls Hulett family
Ava Hulett is the second child the family has lost in five years her father told The News-Press.
"We went through this with our son," James Hulett said of Bradley Hulett, 15, who was fatally shot in 2019 while he was at a friend's house. He said his son's friend was the son of a Tampa police officer, who was disciplined.
The Huletts previously lived in Hillsborough County.
James Hulett recalled that the law enforcement officer left a pistol out at the minors' reach. He explained the weapon fires without the pulling the trigger. The weapon misfired and struck Bradley Hulett in the back of the head.
Bradley Hulett's death deeply affected his younger sister, James Hulett said.
"Far from perfect, she had a lot of struggles after Bradley died," James Hulett said, lamenting her death. "This should've never happened."
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Estero family awaits overdose answers after losing second child
