A Connecticut family say they are not getting answers from police about the death of their 23 year old daughter.
Lauren Smith-Fields of Bridgeport was found unresponsive in her apartment on December 12th and later died at the hospital. The medical examiner has not released the cause of death, and investigators are not commenting on it either. Lauren was a track star at Stamford High School and was currently attending Norwalk Community College for cosmetology. “Without a doubt we know that my daughter was not a drug user,” said her father Everett. “I had a second autopsy myself paid out of pocket because we felt so uncomfortable with the way it was handled.” The family have not released the findings of that second autopsy.
Lauren’s family says that she met an “older white man” on the dating app Bumble, and it was actually this man who alerted police about her death, but he wasn’t taken in for questioning. Her brother Lakeem Jetter said that he asked police about the man and they “just made it seem like the guy was a nice guy, nothing to investigate.” Lauren’s family explained that officers working the case had failed to extend even the most basic support to the family, adding that their only contact has been with a “very insensitive, condescending and arrogant detective.”
Councilwoman Maria Pereira says that the police owe Lauren’s mother Shantell an apology. “She sent a really well written e-mail; it was lengthy, it was extensive, it was very detailed, and I was shocked when she told me just yesterday she had not even received a response.” The City of Bridgeport issued a statement about the investigation, saying “The Bridgeport Police Department takes these concerns very seriously. The Command Staff of the Detective Bureau is reviewing the handling of this case to ensure that best practices were and are being followed. It is imperative to note that the death of Lauren Smith-Fields remains an ongoing investigation. Our department extends its deepest condolences to the family of Lauren.”
