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By Brent Schrotenboer
STAFF WRITER
November 1, 2004
Former Padre Ken Caminiti died Oct. 10 of a drug overdose, coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart, according the New York City Medical Examiner.
From the Union-Tribune
Fatal errors: On the field, Ken Caminiti was a tough guy, able to handle anything hit his way
His death was caused by "the combined effects of cocaine and opiates," said Grace Brugess, spokesperson for the Medical Examiner. "A contributing factor was coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy."
The death was ruled an accident. Brugess said today the Medical Examiner would not release any other information regarding Caminiti's autopsy, which was performed in New York City Oct. 11.
Caminiti, 41, died after emerging from the bathroom of an acquaintance in the Bronx, clutching his chest. His final hours were spent with two convicted drug dealers, Angel Gonzalez, 41, and Rob Silva, 35, who spent time in prison together in Hudson, N.Y.
Gonzalez denied seeing any drug use by Caminiti or being involved with any since he was put on parole. Caminiti and Silva came to the apartment of Gonzalez's girlfriend, Anita Quinones, that day and had been in her bathroom for 5-10 minutes before he came out and fell ill. Gonzalez called 911.
"I hope he didn't do anything in the bathroom," Gonzalez said. "Maybe he flushed it. I don't know. Why does this have to happen to me? It's a tragedy."
Gonzalez said he's turned his life around from drugs and said his girlfriend's apartment is "no drug den."
New York police escorted Caminiti's brother, Glenn, to the Quinones apartment in the days after Caminiti's death. They searched to see if Caminiti left anything behind in the apartment and found nothing, Gonzalez said.
Caminiti, the 1996 National League MVP with the Padres, admitted in a Houston court earlier last month that he had used cocaine. He also admitted to using steroids during his baseball career.
STAFF WRITER
November 1, 2004
Former Padre Ken Caminiti died Oct. 10 of a drug overdose, coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart, according the New York City Medical Examiner.
From the Union-Tribune
Fatal errors: On the field, Ken Caminiti was a tough guy, able to handle anything hit his way
His death was caused by "the combined effects of cocaine and opiates," said Grace Brugess, spokesperson for the Medical Examiner. "A contributing factor was coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy."
The death was ruled an accident. Brugess said today the Medical Examiner would not release any other information regarding Caminiti's autopsy, which was performed in New York City Oct. 11.
Caminiti, 41, died after emerging from the bathroom of an acquaintance in the Bronx, clutching his chest. His final hours were spent with two convicted drug dealers, Angel Gonzalez, 41, and Rob Silva, 35, who spent time in prison together in Hudson, N.Y.
Gonzalez denied seeing any drug use by Caminiti or being involved with any since he was put on parole. Caminiti and Silva came to the apartment of Gonzalez's girlfriend, Anita Quinones, that day and had been in her bathroom for 5-10 minutes before he came out and fell ill. Gonzalez called 911.
"I hope he didn't do anything in the bathroom," Gonzalez said. "Maybe he flushed it. I don't know. Why does this have to happen to me? It's a tragedy."
Gonzalez said he's turned his life around from drugs and said his girlfriend's apartment is "no drug den."
New York police escorted Caminiti's brother, Glenn, to the Quinones apartment in the days after Caminiti's death. They searched to see if Caminiti left anything behind in the apartment and found nothing, Gonzalez said.
Caminiti, the 1996 National League MVP with the Padres, admitted in a Houston court earlier last month that he had used cocaine. He also admitted to using steroids during his baseball career.
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