A 19-year-old from Grand Junction who died last month had the toxic compounds from bath salts in his system, as well as marijuana and alcohol, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office said today.
Bath salts are legally sold and sometimes used as a recreational drug, because they act as a strong stimulant with hallucinogenic effects.
Daniel J. Richards was taken to a hospital by friends on April 10, and was quickly admitted to an intensive care unit. His cause of death was strangulation, caused by the effects of the drug.
He was two days later.
“Bath salts have been known to cause agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure, paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive behavior and sudden death,” the coroner’s office stated, in announcing the conclusion of its part of the investigation.
The Grand Junction Police Department is overseeing the investigation.
