Police say US swimming star Jamie Cail died from ‘accidental fentanyl poisoning’ following months-long probe into 42-year-old’s cardiac arrest
A swimming champion found dead in the U.S. Virgin Islands in February died of an accidental fentanyl poisoning, officials confirmed this week.
Jamie Cail, 42, was initially reported to have died of cardiac arrest.
She was found unconscious on February 21 by her boyfriend on the floor of his house, on the island of St. John, where she lived and worked in a bookstore.
On August 22, a USVI coroner announced she died of “fentanyl poisoning with aspiration of stomach contents.”
Cail was part of the U.S. team at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships as a teenager and won a gold medal in the team’s 800 free relay.
Jamie Cail, 42, was found unconscious on February 21 by her boyfriend – who has not yet been identified – as police launched a criminal investigation
Authorities confirmed the medal-winning swimmer (second from right) was discovered on the floor of her boyfriend’s home on St John Island before being taken to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic
Hospital staff on St. John performed CPR when she arrived with her partner and a friend and “informed she was in cardiac arrest,” but Cail “succumbed” and passed away in the early hours.
Detectives were notified of the death upon arrival and an autopsy was performed to determine her cause of death.
Deaths from fentanyl, a powerful opioid used to treat pain, have been on the rise in the US in recent years.
There were more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021, most of them caused by fentanyl.
Although there is significant drug trafficking in the US Virgin Islands, especially in cocaine and marijuana, fentanyl has not been a major problem in the area until recently.
Cail’s death is the second in the islands as a result of the drug.
The first reported fentanyl-related death in the U.S. Virgin Islands occurred on April 28, 2021, when 30-year-old Rachl “Starchild” Atnip was found dead in her home on St. Thomas.
Police have not said whether they are investigating the source of the fentanyl that led to Cail’s death, and it is not known if any other fentanyl-laced drugs are currently for sale on the street.
Her family said they were “devastated” and “shocked to the bone” by her death, but friends posted several cryptic messages about the tragic swimmer’s passing.
One claimed she was “trying to escape,” adding that she “deserves justice” despite no arrests being made in connection with her death.
They described her as a “great human being and friend,” while writing in a separate post about Cali that they were “going to find out the truth.”
Another message – which also appeared to be about the swimmer – read: ‘She was trying to escape to heal. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it in time. You were so close darling.’
The former University of Maine swimmer worked at a coffee shop and bookstore in St. John.
Heartbroken residents have left a tribute to the award-winning swimmer outside the shop, along with flowers.
It comes after her family said they were left “devastated” and “shocked to the bone” by her death, while friends posted several cryptic messages about the tragic swimmer’s passing.
Heartbroken residents have left a tribute to the award-winning swimmer outside the shop, along with flowers
The former University of Maine swimmer worked at a coffee shop and bookstore in St. John
Cail, from Claremont, New Hampshire, was a star swimmer who competed across the US in her youth.
A friend told WMUR: ‘She was just, she was a very beautiful person. She had a big heart.
“She was very loving and kind and loved and popular on the island and everyone knows her.”
Cail was part of the U.S. team at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships as a teenager, where she won a gold medal in the team’s 800 free relay, according to SwimSwam.
She also won a silver medal at the 1998–99 Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
A friend claimed she was ‘trying to escape’ and added that she ‘deserves justice’ despite no arrests being made in connection with her death
In 1996-1997, Cail was included with Bolles in the ten Top 16 lists published by United States Swimming, and swam in college at USC
The swimmer attended Bolles School, known for its swimming program, in Jackson, Florida.
Cail still holds the record for the 200m Fly, 400m IM, 200m IM and 400m IM in the 15-16 age group.
She won several high school state championships in Huntington Beach, where she moved to train at the Golden West Swim Club in California.
She won a silver medal at the 1998–99 FINA Swimming World Cup in Brazil in the 800 free as a member of the United States Swimming National B Team.
In 1996-1997, Cail was included with Bolles in the ten Top 16 lists published by United States Swimming, and swam in college at USC.