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san diego
Autopsy results released for John McCusker
Toxicology report reveals drug intoxication as cause of death
Published Thursday, 31-Mar-2005 in issue 901
The Mono County Sheriff’s Department released the final autopsy results for deceased Club Montage and ReBar owner John McCusker on Tuesday. In the autopsy report asphyxiation, acute and congestive heart failure, and acute thrombosis or blockage of his pulmonary arteries were listed as contributing factors in his death, all due to drug intoxication. McCusker, who was 31, died at the Mammoth Lakes Ski Resort on March 13.
A toxicology report revealed McCusker had a blood alcohol level of .102, a 502 ng/ml level of oxycodone and a 106 ng/ml level of amphetamine in his blood.
According to Mono County’s Chief Deputy Coroner Robert Weber, these levels of oxycodone, a painkiller, and amphetamine, a stimulant, were abnormally high. He said normal therapeutic levels of amphetamine and oxycodone both range between 20 and 40 ng/ml.
“The narcotics that had been ingested at some point in time during that evening were the contributing factor that led to Mr. McCusker’s death,” Weber said.
Methamphetamine was not found in McCusker’s system, but McCusker’s partner, David Trick, told Weber that McCusker had in the past used crystal methamphetamine and cocaine. Trick stated in a police report that the last time McCusker used crystal methamphetamine was a week prior. McCusker had also been diagnosed with high blood pressure and had been taking medication to control it.
According to the coroner’s report, prescribed medications including Adderall XR, Xyprexa and amphetamine salts (the generic form of Adderall) were found among McCusker’s belongings at the Mammoth Lakes Ski Resort. Additional medications were found not in a proper prescription bottle, which included an unidentified orange pill, Valium, Mylan 4010 Tamezepam and OxyContin.
Weber said OxyContin has an addictive quality and can be lethal when mixed.
“It’s basically a painkiller that would depress the system,” he said. “Then you put the amphetamines on board and it’s kind of like a speedball.”
Weber’s investigation also stated that McCusker had consumed three 12-ounce cans of beer earlier that evening in addition to five Mai Tai drinks prior to going to bed.
Weber said McCusker’s drug use history might have had an impact on his death. “I think that everyone’s history is never forgotten. At some point in time you’re going to have to pay the piper. You abuse your heart with the history that’s admitted to, then you’ve done damage. To recover from that is not as easy.”
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