The woman who allegedly endured days of rape and torture at the hands of suspected serial rapist Brent J. Brents has died of an accidental drug overdose, the Denver coroner’s office said Tuesday.
Michelle Weiss-Samaras, chief deputy coroner, said the woman died of a combination of opiate (such as heroin or morphine) and cocaine toxicity.
Dr. James Wahe, assistant medical examiner, said that the woman was unconscious when brought to the hospital and remained in a coma until she died.
The woman was allegedly raped 13 times after being abducted near East 10th Avenue and Marion Street on Feb. 16.
She was raped at knifepoint for nearly three days and allegedly was forced to accompany Brents to Glenwood Springs, where Brents was captured late on Feb. 18.
The woman collapsed outside her Denver apartment on March 31 and was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital, where she died on April 10 – her 28th birthday.
“She lived two days with the devil (Brents) and then died of a drug overdose,” Denver police chief Gerry Whitman said. “What a tragedy.”
The Denver Post does not name the victims of sexual assault.
Authorities said there was no indication that the woman intended to take her life. That is why her death was ruled accidental.
“It was a tragedy,” said Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey. “Those of us that are working closely with the victims in this case and having contact with them were all very upset with the news.”
Morrissey said his office fully “intends to continue to prosecute Mr. Brents for what he did to her.”
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
