Overview
- The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Garrett’s death an accident caused by acute fentanyl toxicity, according to autopsy documents published July 27.
- Garrett, 33, was found unresponsive next to his bed in a Tulsa sober living residence on February 8, and examiners documented rolled dollar bills, burnt foil and a lighter at the scene.
- The autopsy recorded an extremely high fentanyl level, alcohol testing that came back negative, and diffuse swelling of the brain along with shingles lesions in various stages of healing.
- Garrett’s mother told reporters he had visited an emergency room about intense pain a week before his death, received a shingles diagnosis, and she said she feared he may have accidentally self‑medicated after three years sober.
- The documents underscore how potent, often-hidden fentanyl can cause accidental overdoses even for people in recovery and highlight calls for harm‑reduction resources; SAMHSA’s national helpline is 1-800-662-HELP.