Gilroy

3 Dead From Suspected Fentanyl Overdoses in Home Near Gilroy: Sheriff

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Three people were found dead of suspected fentanyl overdoses Monday at a home near Gilroy, and a fourth person was revived by responding Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies.

Deputies were called to the 10000 block of Garcia Lane at 3:05 p.m. by Cal Fire crews who needed assistance. Four people were found unresponsive inside and were administered the medication Narcan, which is used to fight the effects of opioid overdose, according to Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Russell Davis.

"Just based on the signs of symptoms when deputies arrived on scene, deputies knew it was a potential overdose," Davis said.

The person who was revived was taken to a hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and the medical examiner will determine the official cause of deaths.

“We’re trying to educate the public as best as we can, but the reality is this stuff is moving very fast and it’s very dangerous as you can tell from this incident,” said Russell Davis of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities warn the drug is being laced with other drugs – or even made to look like painkillers -- sold on the street. 

Gilroy Councilwoman Rebeca Armendariz says one of the men was a longtime partner of her cousin. 

“I know that he did not use fentanyl, I know he wasn’t somebody who would play with his life that way and we know most people who die from fentanyl it’s more of a poisoning than an overdose,” she said. 

“I think about their mothers, I think about their families and the heartache that it causes,” said Anne Marie McCauley of Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths.

She said like many places, unfortunately, Gilroy has seen a spike in fentanyl use. 

There were 154 deaths from overdoses of opioids in Santa Clara County in 2021, according to the California Department of Public Health. Of those, 125 were fentanyl-related, while in 2019, 25 deaths were attributed to fentanyl, an increase of 500%.

Mccauley argues there need to be more rehab and detox centers – to help people in need. 

“I think we’re all affected, and people are just starting to come out now and be honest about it and talk about it because here it is. It’s at our front door,” said McCauley.

The sheriff’s office says they collected evidence at the home on the street Monday night, and if they can link it to a dealer – they will forward it to the district attorney for charges of homicide.

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