An individual was discovered deceased in a vehicle Tuesday night in Mansion Mall parking lot, with an overdose suspected as the cause.
According to Poplar Bluff Police Chief Michael McClain, police were alerted to the situation after someone observed the body in the vehicle. It is believed the death could be the result of a fatal drug overdose, McClain said.
The official cause of death is unknown at this time, but a toxicology report will be forthcoming in six to eight weeks, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers.
“I’m not prepared to make a full statement about the incident at this time,” Akers explained. “The matter is still under investigation by the coroner’s office.”
Akers did confirm the deceased individual did have a known struggle with substance use disorder.
“After speaking with one of the victim’s family members, it is clear that he was struggling with addiction,” Akers explained. “But his family was working to help him correct those issues, and he had been looking for a rehabilitation program.”
Akers went on to explain that while Butler County has not seen an increase in drug overdose deaths, the substance responsible for the deaths has changed.
“Initially, it was prescription pills and then it was heroin,” Akers stated. “Now it’s fentanyl.”
Butler County averages approximately one fatal overdose every 10 day, he said.
“Fentanyl is such a terrible thing,” Akers noted. “10 years ago, the average person knew nothing about that substance. But things have gotten so bad that everyone knows about it.
“It takes very little fentanyl to kill someone, and I would emphasize to people that if you have a family member that is struggling with addiction, don’t give up on them. And if you know of someone that is distributing or in possession of fentanyl, contact the police immediately. This is a problem that we have got to get under control.”