Opioid overdose killed IU student allegedly raped by Bloomington man, coroner says
An opioid overdose caused the death of a 20-year-old Indiana University student found unresponsive at a Bloomington man's residence the week before classes started in August.
Sheriff's deputies administered naloxone, which often reverses the effects of opioid drugs, when they arrived at the scene after an Aug. 17 911 call. But it was too late to revive Avery McMillan, an IU senior and Zeta Tau Alpha member from Valparaiso.
Fentanyl, fluorofentanyl found in IU student's toxicology test
Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup said toxicology test results showed that a mix of fentanyl and a more potent version of the synthetic drug called fluorofentanyl killed McMillan. Alcohol intoxication was a contributing factor, "however, the fentanyl alone was enough to cause her death," Stalcup said.
IU student found dead: Bloomington man charged with rape after IU student found dead at his house
There have been 39 overdose deaths in Monroe County so far this year, 30 of them directly caused by fentanyl or by a mix of fentanyl with other drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, Stalcup said.
National Center for Health Statistics data indicate that opioids cause most drug overdose deaths in the U.S., which increased 28% from 2020 to 2021. About three-fourths of drug overdose deaths during 2020 involved opioids.
"With illicitly manufactured fentanyl continuing to supplant the heroin market, and increasing illicit use of counterfeit pills containing either fentanyl, various fentanyl-related compounds, or other opioids, the risk for drug overdose deaths remains high," the CDC reported earlier this year.
Suspect charged with 2 felonies
McMillan was found dead at a house on Arlington Road, just west of Bloomington, where 33-year-old Eric Montgomery lived with his parents. He stands charged with two felonies and with being a habitual criminal offender.
He is jailed on a $100,000 surety and $1,000 cash bond. If he posts the required $11,000 to be released, a judge ruled Montgomery will be put on house arrest and monitored by GPS. Monroe Circuit Judge Valeri Haughton called Montgomery "a possible threat to the community" when she denied his bail reduction request.
Montgomery faces two charges connected to McMillan: rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient (in this case from intoxication), and furnishing alcohol to a minor where "the consumption, ingestion, or use of the alcoholic beverage is the proximate cause of the serious bodily injury or death."
It's unclear whether Montgomery will face additional charges arising from the toxicology results. Jeff Kehr, Monroe County chief deputy prosecutor, didn't respond to an inquiry on Tuesday.
For subscribers:Man accused of raping IU student who died was on trial for murder in 2010
Some of McMillan's friends and family attended Montgomery's initial court hearing wearing T-shirts that said "#justiceforavery."
When it was over, the defendant's mother accused police of unfairly going after her son and depicting him as a monster. "lt's a damn lie," Nicole Franklin said of allegations a detective made during the hearing about crimes her son hasn't been charged with.
Montgomery told police he had met McMillan in Bloomington and that they had sex and drank together that night, ending up at his residence. He denied doing anything to cause her death.
His next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1.
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Coroner: IU student found in Bloomington man's home died of overdose
