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Fatal Fall: Ketamine Found in Young Woman's System
4 Nov
Summary
- Ketamine and norketamine were detected in Victoria Zardoya's blood sample.
- Alcohol and a sedative were also present in the system of the 20-year-old.
- Her death was officially ruled an accident due to head trauma.
Three months after Victoria Zardoya's fatal fall at the Fort Dade ruins, new details have emerged from the medical examiner's report. Authorities confirmed that Zardoya's blood tested positive for ketamine and norketamine, a substance produced by the body when breaking down ketamine. The toxicology results, collected shortly after her July 24 fall, also indicated the presence of alcohol and etomidate, a medication used for sedation.
The medical examiner's report did not specify when or why these substances entered Zardoya's system, nor if they contributed to her fall. Her death was previously ruled an accident resulting from craniocerebral trauma, with the autopsy documenting skull fractures and brain bleeding. Friends who were present described the harrowing experience of realizing the severity of her fall and the subsequent rescue efforts by first responders.
Victoria's best friend, Milania Giudice, has since held a celebration of life for the 20-year-old. Giudice remembered Zardoya as the "life of the party" and a cherished friend with whom she shared many memories, growing up together and enjoying various activities like music, concerts, and time spent in Tampa.
