A month after the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and two others, autopsy and toxicology reports reveal that the pitcher was drunk and had cocaine in his system.
According to the official report, cocaine was detected and Fernandez's blood alcohol content was nearly double the legal limit.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez directed the Medical Examiner to fulfill public records requests to disclose the autopsy and toxicology report for Jose Fernandez, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero Saturday afternoon.
"Miami-Dade County prides itself on being a transparent government," Gimenez said.
The Medical Examiner was prepared to release the information, however, Florida Fish & Wildlife submitted an affidavit to Miami-Dade County saying that it was conducting a criminal investigation and therefore the autopsy and toxicology report should not be released until its investigation had concluded.
The Miami Herald submitted a public records request for the information, but was informed that it would not be released due to the Fish & Wildlife investigation. As a result, the Herald filed a lawsuit against the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner.
"Because our role in this matter is complete and Fish & Wildlife has the responsibility to prove an active criminal investigation, I have directed the Medical Examiner to fulfill public records requests for the autopsy and toxicology report today," Gimenez said.
Fernandez, 24, died when his boat, named "Kaught Looking," crashed into the north jetty off Government Cut shortly after 3 a.m. on September 25th. Emilio Jesus Macias, 27, and Eduardo Rivero, 25, also were killed in the tragic incident.
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Courtesy of our news partners at NBCMiami.com.
