Latest news with #Merrifield
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
No details on how Rio Arriba sheriff ingested fentanyl in New Mexico State Police reports
A month and a half after Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield died from a fatal combination of alcohol and fentanyl, those investigating his death still don't know how he consumed the drug. An initial batch of reports released by New Mexico State Police this week indicate the agency's investigators have not yet determined how Merrifield ingested the fatal dose of fentanyl that caused his death, along with alcohol, according to toxicology reports. Following the sheriff's death, investigators collected evidence from the scene, including several cellphones, and interviewed the last people who had seen him alive and some of his close friends, the reports show. But the reports indicate investigators did not recover any drugs or drug paraphernalia from the scene of the sheriff's death. Although witnesses noted Merrifield was drinking alcohol the night before he died, several who were close to the sheriff have noted — to the police and to The New Mexican — they had never known him to use drugs. Merrifield was found dead in his sheriff's office vehicle on Easter Sunday, April 20, after being involved in what police described as a "minor crash" early that morning down the street from his home near Abiquiú Lake. A close friend told officers and dispatchers he had come to Merrifield's aid sometime before 4 a.m., just after the crash, in which Merrifield, apparently driving his sheriff's office vehicle while intoxicated, had run over a street sign. The sheriff had been with a woman he had met a week before, his friend told police. The two had been drinking together at Merrifield's home, and Merrifield crashed into the sign just after leaving his home to take the woman back to a house she where was living in Española. The woman — who told police she was from Chihuahua, Mexico, and had been staying in Española for about eight months with family friends while acting as a caregiver for an older relative — had met Merrifield at the bar at the Ohkay Hotel Casino the previous Saturday night, April 12. Merrifield was there with friends, including the man who came to the couple's aid the morning Merrifield died, she said. The woman and Merrifield remained in contact throughout that week, developing a romantic relationship, according to the report. She told police Merrifield had been drinking liquor mixed into a Sprite bottle through the night of April 19 and into the following morning, but he was not "displaying obvious signs of impairment," such as stumbling, and he told her he was "good" to drive her home. After he swerved off the road and struck a road sign on N.M. 96, about 50 yards from the entrance of his driveway, the woman became "scared," she said, and she took the wheel and steered the vehicle back onto the road, according to the report. She looked over and saw that Merrifield was "snoring," she said. Police asked the woman if she or Merrifield had used any drugs, and she said "she didn't, but she didn't know if Billy used," police wrote in a report. Investigators interviewed the woman twice, once just hours after Merrifield was found dead and again May 2. Officers indicated the woman asked if she could return home to Mexico sometime after the second interview. After Merrifield's friend arrived at the scene of the crash early the morning of April 20, he drove back to Merrifield's home and the woman followed him, driving Merrifield's vehicle, sitting on the sheriff's lap because he was in and out of consciousness and could not be moved from the seat, she told police. The friend then took the woman back to Española, leaving Merrifield sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle, parked in his driveway. Merrifield's friend told police he was going to help Merrifield into his home, but he feared the sheriff's dogs — which were inside the home — might bite him if he did so, investigators wrote. He said Merrifield told him he was "okay," and the friend believed Merrifield was going to get out of the car and walk into his house shortly. The woman told officers Merrifield was asleep and snoring in his vehicle when she left with his friend. After trying to call Merrifield 26 times later that day, his friend returned to his home to find him sitting in the vehicle where he had left him that morning, and he was dead, police wrote. Investigators downloaded the contents of the two witnesses' phones and found texts and phone calls that appeared to corroborate the timeline of their testimony about Merrifield's final hours. Reports indicate investigators had not gained access to two phones that apparently belong to the sheriff. As of Friday, state police had not determined whether Merrifield ingested fentanyl knowingly or where he might have obtained it, the agency's spokesperson, Lt. Ricardo Breceda, confirmed in an email, writing, "investigators are hopeful this information will be learned as the investigation continues." There was no evidence to suggest any other staff of the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office were implicated, or that the sheriff obtained any drugs in his official capacity, Breceda wrote. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with Merrifield's death, but investigators are "working to determine if any charges need to be filed," he added.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Report: Rio Arriba County Sheriff Merrifield died from fentanyl, alcohol overdose
The death of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield last month was caused by a drug overdose involving alcohol as well as the synthetic opioid fentanyl, according to reports released Thursday by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. The findings regarding Merrifield's death highlight the ongoing crisis of opioid overdose deaths in Rio Arriba County, which has the highest drug overdose death rate in the state. Merrifield was found dead in his patrol vehicle outside his house near Abiquiú Lake in Rio Arriba County on Easter morning, April 20. A close friend of the sheriff told 911 dispatchers he had helped Merrifield — who he said appeared to be intoxicated — get home early in the morning and left him in the driver's seat of the vehicle; when he returned later that day, he said, the sheriff was unresponsive and not breathing. An autopsy report states 50-year-old Merrifield's death was caused by "the toxic effects of fentanyl and ethanol," ruling the death an accident. "A postmortem urine drug screen was presumptively positive for cocaine and fentanyl," the report states, adding toxicology blood tests were requested and reported separately. The autopsy was performed April 21, the day after Merrifield died. The separate toxicology report notes Merrifield's body tested positive for alcohol, caffeine and fentanyl. Additionally, the tests found substances related to the metabolism of opioids. At the time of testing, his blood-alcohol concentration was found to be 0.071, a little below the legal driving limit of 0.08. The level of fentanyl in Merrifield's blood was 23 nanograms per milliliter, with the report noting that in other fentanyl deaths blood concentrations have been reported as low as 3 ng/mL, and that postmortem blood fentanyl concentrations have ranged from 0.30 to 110 ng/mL. The forensic pathologist noted Merrifield's body did not have any significant internal or external injuries. Sheriff: 'Profound disappointment' Current Rio Arriba County Sheriff Lorenzo Aguilar — who was appointed by county commissioners the day after Merrifield was found dead — issued a statement Thursday expressing "profound disappointment and concern" regarding the findings in the reports. "It is essential to emphasize that no individual is above the law, particularly those of us who have taken an oath to uphold it," Aguilar wrote. "While we all make mistakes as human beings, public officials are held to a higher standard due to the trust and responsibility bestowed upon them by the community they serve." Aguilar wrote: "Events of this nature" can "significantly undermine public confidence in law enforcement." "Therefore, I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that all deputies are held accountable for their actions," he wrote. "The behavior exhibited in this case does not align with the values and integrity that characterize the dedicated men and women of the Rio Arriba Sheriff's Office." Aguilar wrote he will "work diligently to restore faith in our office and ensure that we continue to serve our community with the respect and integrity it rightfully expects." Aguilar declined to answer questions Thursday regarding whether any other employees of the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office had been implicated in the apparent illegal drug use by the department's top official, or whether an internal investigation was underway. State police mum on inquiry New Mexico State Police opened an investigation into Merrifield's death on the day his body was found, but state police have not disclosed details or records of their findings. The state Department of Public Safety has withheld all reports from the investigation in response to a request from The New Mexican, citing the case as an "ongoing/active investigation." State police Sgt. Ricardo Breceda declined to answer questions about the agency's investigation in an email Thursday, noting the investigation is "ongoing." "We contact investigators who determine what information can/can't be released," Breceda wrote. "For similar reasons, we can't release any information at this time." A 911 call placed by Merrifield's friend on the day he was found offers some details of the sheriff's final hours. The man told dispatchers shortly after noon on Easter Sunday he had driven to the area of Merrifield's home in Abiquiú around 3 a.m. to help his friend after Merrifield and a woman had apparently been in a crash. The man said he followed Merrifield — who was driving his patrol vehicle — several blocks home and then left Merrifield in the driver's seat and drove the woman home. Several people have reported to The New Mexican seeing Merrifield the previous evening at a car show at the Ohkay Hotel Casino in Ohkay Owingeh. Merrifield's blood also tested positive for the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, two medications used to treat erectile dysfunction, according to the toxicology report. The man told dispatchers he believed Merrifield was drunk, but he thought the sheriff was about to get out of his vehicle and walk inside his house; instead, the friend came back about nine hours later and found Merrifield sitting where he had left him, dead. Persistent opioid epidemic Fentanyl has become the primary target in a desperate fight against a continuing opioid epidemic throughout the state and the country. Rio Arriba County — where Merrifield served as sheriff for more than three years — has the highest drug overdose death rate in the state, in spite of its low population. The county had an overdose death rate in 2023 of 141 per 100,000 residents, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That compares with a national average rate of 31.3. The next-highest overdose death rate in New Mexico in 2023 was Torrance County, at 98 overdose deaths per 100,000; Santa Fe County's rate that year was 58.7. The most recent provisional counts by the federal agency state 46 people died from drug overdoses in Rio Arriba County in the 12 months ending in September. Merrifield's time as sheriff of Rio Arriba County followed two previous sheriffs who were each sentenced to prison during their terms. Former Sheriff Tommy Rodella was convicted of federal charges after he pulled his gun during a road-rage incident and struck another man with his badge. Following Rodella, Sheriff James Lujan was convicted of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness after an incident involving former Española City Councilor Philip Chacon. Merrifield testified as a witness in Lujan's trial, and he was appointed interim sheriff after Lujan resigned. He was elected to the role in 2022. Some Española Valley residents expressed shock over the findings. Former Española City Councilor Dennis Tim Salazar said he knew Merrifield for years and played basketball alongside the former sheriff on a recreational team earlier this year. They played their last game one week before Merrifield was found dead, he said. He said Merrifield was "a wonderful guy" who is "very much missed." "Those words — fentanyl and Billy — they just don't go together, and it really makes me wonder if there might be more to it," Salazar said of his friend's death. "It just doesn't make sense at all."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield died of fentanyl, alcohol toxicity
May 15—Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield died last month due to the toxic effects of fentanyl and ethanol, according to an autopsy report released by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner Thursday morning. The report concludes Merrifield died by "accident" due to the combined effects of the substances. According to the autopsy, Merrifield had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.071 and 23 nanograms per millimeter of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid known for being 50 to 100 times as powerful as morphine. The drug has become widely known to New Mexicans and Americans in recent years for its high risk of addiction and overdose. Merrifield's body was found in his patrol vehicle outside his home overlooking Abiquiu Reservoir on Easter Sunday, April 20. New Mexico State Police handled the preliminary investigation and said the former Rio Arriba top cop had died "unexpectedly." Merrifield was 50. According to a January report from the New Mexico Department of Health, fentanyl was involved in 65% of overdose deaths in the state in 2023. However, overall overdose deaths have declined 8% statewide since 2021, when they reached a peak of 1,029. This is a developing story.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The best probiotics for IBS in 2025, according to gut health experts
When you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it can feel like your gut has a mind of its own — surprise bloating after meals, sudden sprints to the bathroom and noisy stomach gurgles often become just another part of daily life. While there's no cure, probiotics for IBS may help manage these unwanted gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. "Some of the most common symptoms are recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and either diarrhea or constipation or a combination of the two," says Claire Merrifield, a London-based medical doctor, medical director of Selph and PhD in gut microbiome. "Symptoms can vary between people and can range from mild to debilitating." When shopping for probiotics, it's helpful to know which of the three major subtypes you have: IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and mixed-type IBS (IBS-M), which includes episodes of both constipation and diarrhea. Probiotics are strain-specific, meaning that some are more helpful for certain symptoms than others. For this reason, it's important to choose a probiotic that's formulated to address your GI concerns. Just keep in mind that what works wonders for your friend or coworker might not do the same for you, since every gut is different. "Many people find symptom relief with probiotics," adds Merrifield, "but it may take a few trials to find the right formulation for you." In people who have IBS as a result of dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria, probiotics may be particularly helpful. "Although there is a lot of great research about probiotics," she adds, "actually buying them and finding the right one for you is a bit of a minefield." To help you make an informed decision, we spoke with three gut health experts about the best probiotics for IBS — and what really matters when choosing one. Keep reading for our picks of the best probiotics for IBS in 2025. A note on supplements The products included on this list are dietary supplements. Statements about these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are not appropriate for everyone and may interact with other supplements or medications, so talk to your health care provider before adding a dietary supplement to your routine. If you have IBS, shopping for probiotics can be overwhelming. Here are the key things to look for to ensure you're choosing a product that's high-quality and more likely to be effective: The types of probiotic strains in your supplement matter greatly, especially if you're looking for a probiotic that can help manage IBS symptoms. According to Merrifield, a probiotic strain's name may include up to three important pieces of information: Genus: the first part of a species' scientific name, representing a broad group of related bacteria (for example, Bacillus) Species: the second part of the name, identifying a specific type within the genus (for example, coagulans) Strain: a unique identifier for the exact bacterial strain, usually a combination of numbers and/or letters (for example, Bacillus coagulans MTCC-5856) Knowing the specific strain is the most helpful for choosing a probiotic for IBS, says Merrifield. This is because different strains — even within the same species — can have different effects. But many supplements, even highly reputable ones like VSL#3, don't provide specific strain information. So, which species or strains should you look for? Research on probiotics for IBS is ongoing. That said, strains from the genuses Bacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus appear to be the most helpful. While there may be other effective strains and species, here are five that are most commonly recommended for people with IBS: Several strains of B. coagulans may be helpful for IBS. According to Clarke, research suggests that B. coagulans may be one of the most effective species for improving overall symptom relief, abdominal pain and bloating in people with IBS. : Simpson explains that this species may help with bloating and pain related to IBS. This species may also be helpful for IBS. "It's associated with fewer adverse events and improved quality of life," says Clarke. 299v: According to Simpson, this strain may be helpful for improving motility, or the movement of material through the digestive tract. This could help alleviate constipation. One study found that it helped with several IBS symptoms and was associated with quality of life improvements. GG: This strain may be particularly helpful for IBS-D, says Simpson. It may help improve gut barrier integrity. Keep in mind, there's no guarantee that a probiotic or these specific strains will help alleviate your symptoms. "Effectiveness really depends on your symptoms," says Simpson, "IBS-C, IBS-D and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) all respond differently, so personalization matters." SIBO is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by an excess of bacteria living in the small intestine, rather than the large intestine where they typically reside. It's been closely linked to IBS symptoms. Clarke also notes, "Multi-strain probiotics generally show better results than single-strain supplements in improving global symptoms." When in doubt, reach for a multi-strain probiotic formula for IBS, or consult a gastroenterologist or digestive health dietitian. The dose of a probiotic is expressed as colony forming units (CFU). It's an estimate of how many viable microbes are in a single serving of a probiotic supplement. Keep in mind that CFU doesn't always reflect how many live bacteria are actually in a supplement by the time you take it. Bacteria can die off over time — especially if the product isn't stored correctly or is exposed to direct sunlight or large temperature swings. For this reason, choosing a probiotic with a high CFU count is key. Research suggests looking for products with at least 1 billion CFU per serving. To ensure optimal potency, aim to use the entire container before the expiration date, and store it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most probiotics are available in powders or capsules. Capsules are generally more convenient, but some people may prefer powders if they have trouble swallowing pills. Probiotic gummies and chewables are also fairly common and can be a good alternative to capsules and powders. IBS-specific formulations tend to be more expensive than many other probiotics, though there are some budget-friendly options. For instance, our best budget pick — Digestive Advantage Daly Probiotic + Intensive Bowel Support — costs about $0.31 per serving. Whereas medical-grade probiotics, like VSL#3 or Visbiome GI Care, cost $1 or more per capsule. Look for a product that fits your budget without sacrificing on quality. Unlike medications, dietary supplements aren't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they hit the shelves. While the FDA sets guidelines for safe manufacturing processes, it doesn't require supplements to be tested for safety, effectiveness or quality. For this reason, it's important to choose products from reputable brands — ideally ones that employ third-party testing by trusted organizations, like NSF International, Informed choice, or United States Pharmacopeia (USP). These groups help ensure supplements: Are free of undisclosed ingredients Are free of contaminants and excessive heavy metals Contain the ingredients listed on the label in the correct amounts Some supplements may also feature third-party specialty certifications, which may be helpful for certain lifestyle needs or dietary preferences. These include USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free, Certified Vegan, NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport Certified and more. To choose the best probiotics for IBS, we first spoke with three experts: a registered dietitian, a gastroenterologist and a medical doctor with a PhD in the gut microbiome. They provided specific brand recommendations as well as information about the best strains to look for and how to identify high quality supplements. Using their expert insights, I narrowed down the options to six products — all from brands they specifically recommended. After assembling the short list of finalists, I used my expertise as a dietitian to evaluate each supplement based on ingredients, research-backed effectiveness for IBS, third-party testing, price and customer reviews. The "winners" were chosen for their strong scientific support and high quality standards — with at least one budget-friendly option to ensure accessibility. Three probiotic supplements ultimately fell short when determining the best probiotics for IBS. However, they may still be helpful, depending on your symptoms and health goals. Here are the other products we considered: Life Extension FLORASSIST Probiotic GI with Phage Technology: This probiotic from Life Extension is designed to support optimal gut health. While it might be a good option for general digestive health, there are better, more targeted probiotics for IBS symptom management. BioGaia Gastrus: BioGaia Gastrus is formulated with 200 million CFU of L. Reuteri strains and may be helpful for relieving occasional GI symptoms, like bloating and gas. Still, we chose probiotics that were more specifically designed for IBS to include in our rankings. Thorne Bacillus Coagulans: This single-strain probiotic contains B. coagulans — one of Clark's top strain recommendations for IBS management. However, he also points out that research generally finds multi-strain blends to be most helpful for symptom relief. For that reason, we decided to highlight just one B. coagulans supplement. Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotics + Intensive Bowel Support ultimately won out because of its lower price. However, this option from Thorne is still an excellent choice, especially if you prefer a product without digestive enzymes. Didn't find quite what you're looking for? You can peruse 13 additional probiotics we tested in our roundup of the best probiotics of 2025. The type of IBS you have is based on your predominant symptom. There are three main types: IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and mixed IBS (IBS-M). A doctor can help you determine your type if you're not sure. IBS doesn't usually go away on its own. It's a chronic condition, and in order to completely resolve symptoms, you may need to work with a doctor to determine and address the root cause. However, you may have long periods of time between flare-ups, especially if you know your IBS triggers and strictly avoid them. The best way to treat and manage IBS is through a combination of medical care and lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms and determine and address the root cause of your IBS. Treatment options include medication, therapy, diet changes, exercise, probiotic supplements and more. Claire Merrifield, MBBS, MRCGP, PhD, a London-based medical doctor, medical director of Selph and PhD in gut microbiome Alyssa Simpson, RDN, CGN, CLT, a digestive health dietitian David D. Clarke, MD, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
911 call on Rio Arriba County Sheriff's death released
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – For the first time, we are hearing the distraught 911 call from a friend of the Rio Arriba County sheriff, to report the sheriff's death, shedding light on what led up to his body being found in his work vehicle. Story continues below Community: NM Dancewear closes its doors for good, leaving hole in dance community Food: Los Ranchos restaurant named best spot for brunch in the state by Yelp Crime: ABQ woman frustrated, two vehicles stolen from hospital parking lot days apart Film: Do you recognize these 'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' filming locations? That friend of Sheriff Billy Merrifield called 911, describing some of the events that unfolded before he found his friend's body. It started when the friend got a call about the sheriff getting into a crash in the middle of the night. Friend: 'My phone rang at 3 o'clock, and this girl that was with him told me that they were in Abiquiu somewhere by his house, and she sounded desperate and was crying.' Merrifield was off duty, and the friend said he didn't know the woman with him. The friend met up with the two, and the woman drove the sheriff's unit back to the sheriff's house. The friend told dispatch he believed Merrifield was drunk, and he told him to go inside. The friend then drove the woman home, leaving the sheriff behind, still in his car. Later in the morning, the friend said he repeatedly called Merrifield's phone and decided to go check on him. Friend: 'He's in his unit, he's unresponsive, I think he's dead.'Operator: 'And you're saying it's for sure?' Friend: 'Yeah, Billy Merrifield. He's my friend.' Operator: 'Okay. And he's unresponsive?' Friend: 'Yeah, I honestly think he's dead.' Merrifield was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of Sheriff Merrifield's death is being investigated by New Mexico State Police. The autopsy report is still in progress. New Mexico State Police said they are also checking to see if the sheriff was under the influence of drugs or alcohol before his death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
