By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–A 16-year-old male found unresponsive in his room on September 8 at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility tested positive for fentanyl, the Medical Examiner’s office reported on Friday.
The Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy on the juvenile on Sept. 9. They said the report was a “presumptive test” which requires further laboratory testing to confirm it. The cause and manner of death are pending laboratory results and further evaluation.
On Wednesday, the teen was found unresponsive at the detention facility in the 2800 block of Meadow Lark Drive in San Diego. County probation officers found the teen in his room around 7 a.m. The officers, medical staff, and fire department personnel performed life-saving measures, but the teen was pronounced deceased.
Investigators said there were no immediate signs of trauma or assault on the youth at the facility.
Behavioral health clinicians were called to provide counseling to the other juveniles at the facility.
“The health and well-being of juveniles in our care is the highest priority of the San Diego County Probation Department, which is deeply saddened by this tragedy and expressed condolences to the family,” county probation officials said in a released statement.
