Autumn Crittendon, a former cast member of the reality TV show “16 and Pregnant,” died due to a lethal combination of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, as confirmed by the Virginia Department of Health. The 27-year-old’s death on July 20 was ruled as accidental. Crittendon, legally known as Oxley, was found unresponsive at her residence.
Para-fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid analgesic, was initially synthesized for research purposes in the 1960s, according to the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. The drug, combined with fentanyl, led to Crittendon’s untimely demise.
On the day of Crittendon’s death, paramedics from the Henrico County Police Department in Virginia attempted to revive her. Despite their best efforts, the former MTV star was pronounced dead at the scene. The police department classified the incident as a death investigation, with detectives working alongside the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Crittendon was discovered by her stepfather at their shared home, where she lived with her mother, stepfather, and her children. The former reality TV star was a mother to three children. She had her first child, a son named Drake, with Dustin Franklin in December 2013. She later had two more children, a boy and a girl, who are nearly 5 and 2 years old, respectively.
At the time of her death, Crittendon was reportedly suffering from heartburn and was unwell. She had also been diagnosed with diabetes and had a history of kidney issues. Her sister, Misty Crittendon, was the first to announce Autumn’s death in a now-deleted Facebook post on July 21.
In her post, Misty expressed her grief and shock over her sister’s sudden death, praising Autumn for her strength in staying sober through challenging times and expressing pride in her as a mother. She also expressed her devastation and uncertainty about how to cope with the loss.