8/18/2017 The McClatchy Company Mail - Baylee Gatlin toxicology questions

Monica,

The answers to your ques ons are below in blue.

Tony Cipolla

Public Information Officer

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office

1585 Kansas Avenue

San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Office: 805-781-4547

From: Vaughan, Monica <mvaughan@thetribunenews.com>

Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 3:00 PM
To: Tony Cipolla
Subject: Re: Baylee Gatlin toxicology ques ons

On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 2:50 PM, Vaughan, Monica

<mvaughan@thetribunenews.com> wrote:
Hello,

As discussed, I am looking into the autopsy of Baylee Gatlin, whose cause of

death was ruled as acute Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Toxicity.

Experts that I have spoken with, including Dr. David Nichols, a pharmacologist and
medical chemist formerly of Purdue University, said that death caused by the level
of LSD found in Gatlin's system is simply not possible, nor a logical or reasonable
conclusion, and that her blood was likely not analyzed for what actually killed her.
The amount of LSD found in her system is about one tenth of an effective dose of
acid.
The Sheri's Oce stands by our expert and his conclusion. The lab (CVT) tested the
blood sample three mes for the level of LSD in her system. Monterey County Sheri did
an inves ga on that established the me-line of Gatlin at the LIB event. Gatlin was
witnessed dosing herself at about 1600 hours. She was taken to the "Medical" tent at
about 2100 hours. The ambulance arrived at about 0123 hours. The ambulance arrived at
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8/18/2017 The McClatchy Company Mail - Baylee Gatlin toxicology questions

Twin Ci es Hospital at about 0215. Gatlin was pronounced deceased at 0342. LSD has a
well published half-life (medical term describing the dura on of eects in rela on to
metabolism) of 3-4 hours, which means that the LSD was at a much higher level in
her blood during the approximate 12 hours prior to death.

I've viewed the toxicology report and the report calls out certain drugs that were
tested for: including synthetic cannabinoids, GHB, and bath salts.
These tests were requested in addi on to the normal panel of more than 200 known
medica ons and substances.

- Was her blood sample tested for any of the NBOMe type drugs? (There is
no indication on the report that it was).
Yes, her blood sample was tested for NBOMe type drugs. The test was nega ve indica ng
it found none in her system.

- Was her blood sample tested for MDMA? (There is no indication on the
report that it was).
Yes, it is part of the standard panel. Because we test for over 200 substances, we do
not list every nega ve. The reason they do list the addi onal tests (Cannabinoids etc,) is
because they are specically requested tests and outside the normal panel.

In addition, the toxicology report from Central Valley Toxicology says that blood
lysergic ranges are potentially toxic at 1 ng/ML. I could find no scientific study that
finds toxicity levels anywhere near that small amount.
Toxicity is a subjec ve term. What is toxic to one person may not be toxic to another
person.

- Where did that standard come from?

The Lab (CVT) has a library of standards based upon their historical tes ng. Each lab
maintains and reports their ndings according to their standards. Across the industry
there are accepted "norms" but each lab can vary in its evalua on of therapeu c and
toxic levels.

- Finally, does the sheriff's department stand by the original cause of death?
Yes. We trust our expert.

- Will the sheriff's department consider re-testing any blood sample with
another lab for a full toxicology report?
There is no need based upon our inves ga on, the medical informa on that is protected
by HIPPA (Hospital and Ambulance reports), and Monterey County Sheri reports (of
which they are the keeper of records)

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8/18/2017 The McClatchy Company Mail - Baylee Gatlin toxicology questions

One more ques on. There is no men on in the autopsy of what life func on was
impacted by LSD, failed and contributed to her death. Is there clarica on on that? How
did LSD kill her, what was the eect on her bodily func on?
That informa on is precluded by HIPPA. But here is a link to a website that lists the
signs, symptoms and eects of LSD.

http://www.projectknow.com/research/lsd-overdose/

LSD Overdose | Acid Overdose

Signs, Symptoms & Effects
www.projectknow.com

An LSD overdose can create serious medical and

psychological consequences, and getting help quickly
is the best way to lessen those effects. Knowing the
signs and ...

Thank you Tony,

Monica

--
Monica Vaughan
Staff Writer, The Tribune
(805) 781-7930
@MonicaLVaughan

--
Monica Vaughan
Staff Writer, The Tribune
(805) 781-7930
@MonicaLVaughan

Monica Vaughan <mvaughan@thetribunenews.com> Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 11:45 AM

To: Charles Grob <cgrob@labiomed.org>

Hello Charles,

I received a response from the sheriff's department regarding their coroner's findings. If you are willing to provide any
response to their statements, we would like to include that in the story. And I'm very interested to hear your response.

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