Current:Home > reviewsParents of US swimming champ suggest foul play in her death -GlobalInvest
Parents of US swimming champ suggest foul play in her death
Indexbit View
Date:2025-04-09 18:11:27
The parents of former American swimming champ Jamie Cail said they are demanding answers about their daughter's death in the U.S. Virgin Islands and refuting autopsy findings that an accidental drug overdose killed her in February.
In an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Cail's parents, Pat and Gary Cail, slammed the police investigation into their daughter's death in February, claiming critical evidence was "completely overlooked" and suggesting foul play may have been involved.
"What we are looking for is justice for Jamie. We're looking for truth," Pat Cail said.
Jamie Cail, who was raised in Maine and lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands for nearly two decades, was found unresponsive in February in a residence she shared with her boyfriend in St. John, the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department said in a statement.
Cail's boyfriend, whose name was withheld by police, told investigators he found Cail, 42, unconscious after he left a bar and went back to their residence to check on her just after midnight on Feb. 21, according to police. The boyfriend told police he and a friend immediately rushed Jamie Cail to the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
Toxicology results from the autopsy found that Cail died of "fentanyl intoxication with aspiration of gastric content," according to a statement the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department released in August.
"Manner of death is accidental," the police department said in a statement, citing an Aug. 22 report from the medical examiner's office.
But Cail's parents said they believe their daughter's death was no accident and claim police have not been forthcoming with information. They said they haven't been given an official copy of the autopsy report despite repeated requests to obtain one.
"There is no way that she had fentanyl in her voluntarily," Gary Cail said.
MORE: Death of former American swimming champion probed in Virgin Islands
Pat Cail added that her daughter "never did drugs. Never."
The parents shared with "GMA" graphic photos of their daughter they said were taken by a person they authorized to go to a funeral home to view the body.
"She had a black eye. She appeared to have had a blunt trauma to the forehead. It appeared that her nose had been broken. Her lips had blood around them," Pat Cail said, describing the images.
MORE: Tributes pour in for former US swimmer amid death investigation
Gary Cail said, "We don't know if there's anything else on the rest of the body because we don't have the autopsy report."
ABC News has reached out to the U.S. Virgin Island Police Department for comment.
Jamie Cail was a star swimmer for much of her youth in Claremont, New Hampshire. As a teenager, she was a member of an 800-meter relay team that won a gold medal at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships and in 1998 she notched a silver medal at the Swimming World Cup in Brazil.
Her parents said compounding their grief is the knowledge that their daughter was preparing to leave the U.S. Virgin Islands on March 14 to return to New Hampshire.
"She was coming home," Pat Cail said. "It makes no sense."
veryGood! (894)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Fantasia Barrino on her emotional journey back to 'Color Purple': 'I'm not the same woman'
- Microsoft lets cloud users keep personal data within Europe to ease privacy fears
- Isabella Strahan Receives Support From Twin Sister Sophia Amid Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Clarins 24-Hour Flash Deal— Get 50% off the Mask That Depuffs My Skin in Just 10 Minutes
- Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty fueled 20 years of Southeastern Conference college football dominance
- President Joe Biden’s record age, 81, is an ‘asset,’ first lady Jill Biden says
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Double Big Mac comes to McDonald's this month: Here's what's on the limited-time menu item
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Who could replace Pete Carroll? Dan Quinn among six top options for next Seahawks coach
- First endangered Florida panther death of 2024 reported after 13 killed last year
- DJ Black Coffee injured in 'severe travel accident' while traveling to Argentina
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Lake Powell Is Still in Trouble. Here’s What’s Good and What’s Alarming About the Current Water Level
- 2024 tax season guide for new parents: What to know about the Child Tax Credit, EITC and more
- Friendly fire may have killed their relatives on Oct. 7. These Israeli families want answers now
Recommendation
Small twin
Alaska Airlines cancels all flights on 737 Max 9 planes through Saturday
See Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in first trailer for biopic 'Back to Black'
In his 1st interview, friend who warned officials of Maine shooter says ‘I literally spelled it out’
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
New funds will make investing in bitcoin easier. Here’s what you need to know
Manifest Everything You Want for 2024 With These Tips From Camille Kostek
Peeps unveils new flavors for Easter 2024, including Icee Blue Raspberry and Rice Krispies