Seventh Person Dies After Ingesting Laced Pills
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A mother is searching for answers after her son died Wednesday from ingesting what appears to be Fentanyl disguised as a Norco pill.
Jerome Butler is one of 28 people who Sacramento public health officials believe have taken the poisonous pills since last week. Butler is the seventh person to die from what is believed to be the results of the contaminated medication, but autopsies are pending.
Health officials originally thought the pills were Norco laced with Fentanyl, but lab tests on Tuesday showed they were straight Fentanyl made to look like Norco pills.
The difference could mean life or death.
Three days ago, Butler was found unresponsive at a friend's house. It took paramedics 12 minutes to revive him after taking what he thought was a Norco pill.
Natasha Butler's faith is being tested.
"He lost a lot of oxygen to the brain. So what that did is made the kidney fail, the liver fail. The brain is swollen. He's on a respirator now," she said Tuesday.
She hadn't left her son's side since Sunday. She says the father of three took what he thought was a Norco pill to help with chronic stomach pain. The pill came from someone he trusted, she said.
"When he was brought to the hospital, he was pretty much nonresponsive. He was resuscitated twice," she said.
County health officials say 28 cases, including the seven deaths, could be linked to the bad street drugs in the last week.
"The information we have is that people are buying it off the street and some people are telling us that they're getting it from neighbors, or friends or family members," said Dr. Olivia Kasirye.
While family and friends mourn his loss, she wants to make sure other families are warned.
"I wouldn't wish this on no one. No one should have to go through something like this," she said. "It has to stop. It stops here with my son."
