In a recent and shocking revelation, the family of renowned swim star Jamie Cail has claimed that her untimely death was not accidental.
RTM previously reported it was initially believed Cail died from a cardiac arrest on February 21. Her boyfriend reportedly found Jamie on the floor of his home in St. John in the Virgin Islands.
The New York Post reported that Cail, 42, “died of fentanyl intoxication with aspiration of gastric content,” meaning particles from her stomach entered her lungs.
Cail’s family disputes the findings and alleges that Jamie was murdered.
“The injuries she sustained, they were not from a fall. Jamie was beaten to death.” Jamie’s anguished mother charged.
Jessica DeVries, Cail’s cousin, told Insider: “We know that Jamie did not ingest fentanyl intentionally. There is definitely foul play.”
DeVries continued: The family “decided to release the photo because we need everybody to understand that Jamie was not a fentanyl user — that she had actually been beaten.”
A distraught DeVries added: “Her face is bashed in. Did fentanyl do that to her? Jamie’s face was smashed in, the top of her skull and her nose.”
The family shared graphic postmortem photos of Cail’s body marred by bruises and marks seemingly more consistent with an assault than a fall.
Michael Baden, a former medical examiner in New York City told the outlet that the photos show “trauma” that occurred before Cail died. Baden qualified his assessment, noting he did not personally examine the body but photos show “evidence of a beating [as] a cause of death.”
The New York Post was among the first to shed light on these allegations.
Law enforcement agencies find themselves under increased scrutiny after public revelations by the Cail family. Many are pressing for a thorough investigation into the matter.
DeVries told Insider the family feels “completely failed” by police. “We want transparency and we want justice,” she said, reiterating that “Jamie was not a fentanyl user or an opioid user of any kind. She did not do drugs. She was a national, international swimmer who deserves the honor of that because she was amazing and dedicated her life to that.”
The New York Post noted that Cail represented the U.S. and won a gold medal in the 800 free relay at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships.
Cail also won silver at the 1998-99 Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
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