Mystery as Florida woman, 19, dies in her sleep at parent’s home after night out at bar: Cops probe homicide

A Florida teenager has died mysteriously in her sleep at her parents’ home after a night out at a bar, in what officials are considering a possible murder case.

Ava Hulett, 19, was pronounced dead at her family’s home in Estero just hours after she was released from the hospital in early June following an incident at Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar and Grill in Fort Myers.

Lee County detectives have now launched an investigation into the death, said Anthony Rickman, a Tampa attorney representing the family.

Hulett is the younger sister of Bradley Hulett, who was accidentally shot by a friend while playing video games in 2019.

Now the Hulett family is mourning the death of their second eldest child.

Hulett, along with at least one friend, were transported to the hospital for treatment at Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar and Grill in Fort Myers in early June.

Hulett was released from the hospital later that day, but would be found dead just hours later.

According to Rickman, her mother found her unconscious at home around 12:20 p.m.

Meagan called police while her husband performed CPR until first responders arrived on the scene, but she was pronounced dead at 12:31 p.m. The Tampa Bay reported.

‘She had just turned 19 last week, a few days before she died. She was looking forward to going to school, starting her adult life,” Rickman said.

Ava’s mother, Meagan Hulett, spoke about her daughter’s death in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

She emphasized that her daughter did not commit suicide and believes that she accidentally took a substance that caused her death.

“She was conscious after the event and even said to me, ‘I don’t want to die,’” the post said. “She was scared.”

According to her mother, on the night of Hulett’s death, there were reports of “other overdoses” at the same bar – which is why police considered it a possible murder case.

“No parent should ever outlive their children, and these two parents outlive two of their children, and it’s just horrible that they’re going through this again,” said Rickman, the family’s attorney since Bradley was killed.

But the sheriff’s office stated there is no sign that Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar and Grill in Fort Myers caused any intentional harm to their customers.

“At this time there is no evidence that the company’s personnel or operations have caused harm to their customers,” the statement said.

Ava was described as a free-spirited friend who lit up any room and lived “unapologetically.”

“Yesterday one of my best childhood friends passed away,” a friend wrote in an obituary.

“I woke up this morning in complete denial trying to understand why it was Ava. Ava was a girl who always made me laugh. Every room she entered immediately lit up and now that light is gone.

“The untimely death of Ava Hulett has caused an outpouring of grief in her community and beyond, leaving those who knew her with immense grief.”

The Drug Homicide Investigation Unit is currently investigating the incident.

Detectives are awaiting toxicology results to determine Hulett’s cause of death after an autopsy.

The US drug epidemic reached new heights in 2022, official data shows – with the escalating crisis showing no signs of abating.

A CDC report found that there were a record 107,941 overdose deaths that year, which is the most recent data available — the equivalent of 295 fatalities per day and a one percent increase from the year before.

Fentanyl was the main force behind the surge – which is fatal even in small doses – with the illicit drug responsible for almost 70 percent of fatalities.