By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Authorities say the heavy duty pain medication Fentanyl led to the deaths of a pair of grown siblings in Napavine in February.
It’s not clear from the investigation and toxicology results if Cheryl Ausland, 50, accidentally took too much; she died from a combination of that, an insomnia medication and an antidepressant, according to the Lewis County coroner.
Her 59-year-old brother Robert Collier, is believed to have taken his own life after Ausland died.
Aid and deputies were called to the home the morning of February 18, when co-workers of Ausland went to check on her because she hadn’t shown up for work. The pair lived together in the house on the 100 block of East Stella Street.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective Sgt. Dusty Breen said the investigation is not quite wrapped up, but detectives don’t suspect any foul play in Ausland’s death.
Collier’s death was determined to be suicide in part because of the amount of drugs in his system, as well as other things at the scene, Breen said. He said he couldn’t share more details until he finishes his review, expected to be within a week or so, he said.
Breen said it appeared the deaths occurred during the 24-hour period before they were discovered and it seemed as though Collier died after his sister did.
The coroner’s specific cause of death is listed as acute intoxication from Fentanyl and Zolpidem – a drug that slows brain activity to allow for sleep, according to Coroner Warren McLeod.
In Ausland’s case, those two drugs combined with the antidepressant Nortriptyline led to her death, McLeod said.
Who the various medications were prescribed to isn’t clear.
Ausland’s manner of death is labeled undetermined, and they probably never will know the answer as to whether it was an accident or intentional, McLeod said.
Breen said Fentanyl is a powerful pain medication and is renowned for causing overdoses It’s usually when used in combination with other drugs, he said.
It usually comes in the form of a patch, he said.