Mysterious death of New York fashion designer ruled as homicide | New York

The demise of a soaring New York trend designer final calendar year could be joined to a spate of “drug-facilitated theft” crimes in the city, authorities have exposed.

A mystery has surrounded the death of Kathryn Marie Gallagher, 35, because she was observed lifeless in her condominium on Manhattan’s Reduced East Facet on 24 July past 12 months.

The system of Gallagher, whose designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, actor Laverne Cox and dancers of the New York Metropolis Ballet, confirmed no clear indicators of trauma, law enforcement claimed.

But on Friday, the New York police department ruled Gallagher’s demise a murder just after the city’s health care examiner concluded that she died of acute intoxication caused by a mixture of fentanyl, p-pluorofentanyl and ethanol. Investigators also ruled her manner of demise as “drug-facilitated theft”, which indicates someone may possibly have drugged her to steal anything.

NYPD investigators did not elaborate but are mentioned to be investigating irrespective of whether Gallagher was intentionally offered a risky combination of medicine by a person making an attempt to rob her.

“There are no arrests and the investigation continues to be ongoing,” law enforcement reported.

The designer’s family members stated in a assertion to NBC News that “the homicide willpower shared by the clinical examiner now affirms what we understood: Katie was the sufferer of a criminal offense. Sharing this information allows us established the record straight, demand accountability and grieve more overtly.”

Police sources advised the outlet that Gallagher’s loss of life is similar to 26 other deaths in the city around the past 12 months that they have attributed to “drug-facilitated theft”, nevertheless there is no formal indication that her scenario is connected to others.

In December, law enforcement charged Kenwood Allen, 33, in the overdose deaths of two males who experienced been killed just after they ended up approached in nightclubs, drugged and robbed.

Prosecutors allege that Allen was a member of a violent Manhattan theft crew that focused nightclub goers.

“They goal their victims leaving bars, supplying medications in some instances, then either as a result of power or when the victim passes out, they clear away jewellery, cash, substantial-finish watches and phones from their victims,” the NYPD’s main of detectives, James Essig, mentioned at a press briefing.

The spate of “drug-facilitated theft” fatalities was originally linked to adult males frequenting homosexual night clubs, but Essig stated they did not “particularly feel that they’re targeting gay users – this is dependent solely on monetary gain”.

According to an obituary posted on Gallagher’s university website, she had begun her her individual manner line in 2010 and proven additional than two dozen Katie Gallagher collections.

Her operate, the obituary reported, has been highlighted in Vogue, The Slash, Elle and Glamour magazines. “Like AA Milne’s Eeyore, she favored gloomy days and chilly rain. As a child, she was drawn to the woods, mixing potions and taking part in there with her sisters. Animals ended up drawn to her gentle and relaxed demeanor,” it browse.

The presence of fentanyl as an instrument in Gallagher’s murder is probable to elevate currently elevated fears about the dangers of the artificial narcotic linked to two-thirds of far more than 100,000 lethal overdoses in the US previous calendar year.

About 60 bars, restaurants and galleries in the metropolis now hand out fentanyl exam kits, the New York Occasions noted final 7 days, as portion of an hard work to educate people today on what medication they may perhaps be having.

But “drug-facilitated theft” deaths are another indication that the fentanyl disaster, which has triggered phone calls by lawmakers to record fentanyl-trafficking Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, is amplifying lethal criminality.