Medical Examiner: Rudy Eugene Wasn‘t on Bath Salts During Horrific ’Cannibalistic’ Face-Chewing Attack
- Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:00am by
Billy Hallowell
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FILE - This undated file booking photo made available by the Miami-Dade Police Dept. shows Rudy Eugene, 31, who was shot and killed by Miami-Dade Police after he refused to stop eating another man's face in Miami on May 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Miami-Dade Police Dept., File)
MIAMI (The Blaze/AP) — Authorities may never know why a Florida man viciously attacked and chewed on the face of an older homeless man in Miami last month after lab tests failed to find components of “bath salts” in the system of the assailant, who was killed by police.
This finding comes after an earlier autopsy found no human flesh in 31-year-old Rudy Eugene’s stomach. The most recent tests detected only marijuana in the system of the attacker, the medical examiner said Wednesday, ruling out other street drugs that some had speculated that Eugene might have taken.
(Related: Doctors Release New Photos of ‘Miami Cannibal’ Victim’s Face (Warning: Graphic))
An expert on toxicology testing said marijuana alone wasn‘t likely to cause behavior as strange as Eugene’s.
“The problem today is that there is an almost an infinite number of chemical substances out there that can trigger unusual behavior,” said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, Professor and Director of Toxicology at the University of Florida.
Goldberger said the medical examiner‘s office in Miami is known for doing thorough work and he’s confident they and the independent lab covered as much ground as possible. But it’s nearly impossible for toxicology testing to keep pace with new formulations of synthetic drugs.
(Related: Autopsy Finds No Human Flesh Inside Stomach of ‘Miami Zombie’)
“There are many of these synthetic drugs that we currently don’t have the methodology to test on, and that is not the fault of the toxicology lab. The challenge today for the toxicology lab is to stay on top of these new chemicals and develop methodologies for them, but it’s very difficult and very expensive.” Goldberger said. “There is no one test or combination of tests that can detect every possible substance out there.”
There has been much speculation about what drugs, if any, would lead to the bizarre behavior authorities said Eugene exhibited before and during the attack that left the other man horribly disfigured. A Miami police union official had suggested that Eugene, who was shot and killed by an officer during the attack, was probably under the influence of bath salts.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner said in a news release that the toxicology detected marijuana, but it didn’t find any other street drugs, alcohol or prescription drugs. Eugene also tested negative for adulterants commonly mixed with street drugs.
The department ruled out the most common components found in so-called bath salts, which mimic the effects of cocaine or methamphetamine and have been associated with bizarre crimes in recent months. An outside forensic toxicology lab, which took a second look at the results, also confirmed the absence of bath salts, synthetic marijuana and LSD.
Messages left with the medical examiner’s office for comment were not immediately returned.
The Drug Enforcement Administration last year temporarily outlawed the possession and sale of three synthetic stimulants sometimes packaged as “bath salts.” Several states have also moved to ban the drugs, often sold on the Internet and in head shops and other retail outlets. The bans don’t affect the kinds of bath salts added to tubs for their fragrance and cosmetic benefits.
An addiction expert said she wouldn’t rule out marijuana causing the agitation.
“It could have been the strain of marijuana that increases the dopamine in the brain, such as sativa,” said Dr. Patricia Junquera, assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
There are two strains of marijuana called sativa and indica. The sativa increases dopamine and gives you energy while decreasing pain threshold. Indica is a “sleepy high,” she explained.
“People don’t really know what the amount of either is in each little packet of marijuana,” she explained. “And we can’t differentiate between the two in the blood, much less in a dead person.”
She also suggested that if Eugene had a mental disorder, “the marijuana could have increased even further the dopamine levels and aggravated the situation. So that can’t be ruled out.”
Ronald Poppo before the attack
It’s not clear what led to the May 26 attack on Ronald Poppo, a 65-year-old homeless man. Eugene’s friends and family have said he was religious, not violent and that he didn’t drink or do drugs harder than marijuana.
“There’s no answer for it, not really,” Eugene’s younger brother, Marckenson Charles, said in an interview. “Anybody who knew him knows this wasn’t the person we knew him to be. Whatever triggered him, there is no answer for this.”
Surveillance video from a nearby building shows Eugene stripping Poppo and pummeling him, before appearing to hunch over and lie on top of him. The police officer who shot Eugene to death said he growled at the officer when he told him to stop.
Charles, Eugene’s brother, said the family does not plan to pursue any legal action against the police for shooting Eugene.
“They used the force they felt was necessary, even if we don’t agree with that,” he said.
He said Eugene has been buried.
Shortly before the attack, a person driving on the MacArthur Causeway told a 911 dispatcher a “completely naked man” was on top of one of the light poles on the causeway and “acting like Tarzan.” Still, police have said little about what may prompted Eugene to attack Poppo.
Poppo has undergone several surgeries and remains hospitalized. His left eye was removed, but doctors said earlier this month they were trying to find a way to restore vision in his right eye. He will need more surgeries before he can explore the options for reconstructing his face, doctors have said. A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned.
Poppo’s family has said it had no contact with him for more than 30 years and thought he was dead.
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Comments (42)
GeneralOfIdeas
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:34amAdd your comments
Report Post »AScannerClearly
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:09amI had read that he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and that has an interesting and seemingly contradictory relationship with marijuana, as in marijuana use and schizophrenia have a correlation (though not necessarily a causation.) Leading theory is cannabis use can produce an earlier onset of schizophrenia, but not produce new cases of it. Many more schizophrenics than other people are regular marijuana smokers, many claiming it eases their symptoms, though worsens the effects in the long term.
The studies are hard to make sense of since the THC/CBD ratio in the cannabis used is almost never analyzed. THC seems to worsen things, while CBD in its isolated form, is a remarkably effective anti-psychotic with far fewer side effects than conventional things.
Rudy had expressed wishes to family/friends/church members to quit smoking marijuana, so I have 2 theories. 1) He’d not quit, and smoked some cannabis richer in THC than normal (usually Sativa), which set off an episode of schizophrenic psychosis. Or 2) He’d been smoking CBD-rich cannabis (usually Indica) which alleviated his symptoms, successfully quit (likely quite suddenly), and the abstention was literally him “going off his meds”, and triggering a schizophrenic psychosis in spite of it still being in his system at detectable levels.
I learn toward theory #2, though I think we’ll never truly know for sure.
Report Post »armyofnibiru
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:13pmoh come on.because CANNIBis is spelled much like CANNIBulism isn’t proof he had the munchies.did they check for the old drug pcp?did they check to see if he fell and hit his head which can change personalities?
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:54pmI am beginning to think this whole story is staged.
Report Post »But why?
Who would benefit from a story like this?
ginger100
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:03amfda
Report Post »Sand
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:46pmHmmm.. my thoughts.. what about THIS as a probable cause?
===
The most dangerous drug in the world: ‘Devil’s Breath’ chemical from Colombia can block free will, wipe memory and even kill
Scopolamine often blown into faces of victims or added to drinks
Within minutes, victims are like ‘zombies’ – coherent, but with no free will
Some victims report emptying bank accounts to robbers or helping them pillage own house
Drug is made from borrachero tree, which is common in Colombia
By Beth Stebner
PUBLISHED: 12 May 2012
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143584/Scopolamine-Powerful-drug-growing-forests-Colombia-ELIMINATES-free-will.html
Report Post »Hotel23
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:16pmSeriously? Hey braniacs, I have some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale if you are interested.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:02pmSomeone may be experimenting with humans to increase aggressiveness that promotes more stress in Americans. There is nothing I would put past some people any more since seeing what is going on into today’s world. It is getting no better, but much worse.
Report Post »Conservative-Atheist
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:14amAn expert on toxicology testing said marijuana alone wasn‘t likely to cause behavior as strange as Eugene’s….
No **** Sherlock
“It could have been the strain of marijuana that increases the dopamine in the brain, such as sativa,” said Dr. Patricia Junquera, assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine….
another highly educated moron!
Report Post »Hotel23
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:12pmThis shrink from Miami must be living in reefer madness. Please, email this idiot and let’s find out exactly how pot causes canabalism and violence. p.junquera@miami.edu.
Report Post »Well, it DOES cause the munchies…
black9897
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 10:57amBS pot caused this. I hope no one actually believes that.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:13amOh yeah that’s right..pot’s perfectly safe right?
Report Post »Conservative-Atheist
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:20amOh yeah that’s right..pot’s perfectly safe right?
Not perfectly safe or harmless, just safer and more harmless than any other drug on the planet.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:43pmPot does not cause violent behavior, or any sort of behavior like this. Nor does Crack or Heroine. Check “Psychology of Criminal Behavior” -Bartol. I would never encourage anyone to take drugs (i’ve never even tried smoking, let alone pot or any other drug….shoot, strongest drug i’ve ever taken is nightquil). Point is, as adults we have the right to harm ourselves as long as it does not cause damage or violates someones rights. Pot isn’t even that bad for you.
Report Post »Conservative-Atheist
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:45pm@black9897
I would never encourage anyone to take drugs (i’ve never even tried smoking, let alone pot or any other drug….shoot, strongest drug i’ve ever taken is nightquil).
***I commend you on that but I have to ask…have you ever tried alcohol? Because, contrary to popular opinion, alcohol is a drug, in fact it’s the most harmful drug of them all…just sayin.
__________________________________
Point is, as adults we have the right to harm ourselves as long as it does not cause damage or violates someones rights. Pot isn’t even that bad for you.
***Agree totally.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:19pmYes, I have. Fair point, it is a drug. However, I have never abused it (believe it or not I never even drank before 21). I rarely drink, and I mean very rarely. Never really was a temptation or something I wanted to do growing up or even now.
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:59amSecret government program to create a zombie effect on people. Don’t forget the CDC program to prepare for a zombie invasion a few months back. Now we have this and an outbreak of flesh eating bacteria. Hmmm….I just don’t trust anything the government does. But, I do know that satan controls our government and DC is a cesspool so government led by satan equals crazy unbelievable stuff like this. I don’t even trust the toxicology test. They can say they found whatever they are told to say. It certainly wasn’t marijuana.
Report Post »Side note: if the government is lacing the marijuana they are putting out on the streets, then those of you who smoke might want to give it up or chance face eating munchies.
ginger100
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:32am**WARNING, smoking pot causes the munchies**. Face munching.
Report Post »H Beale
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:47amIs it feasible that corexit could cause brain abnormalities? After breathing, swimming, and ingesting these chemicals for the past couple of years, you have to wonder.
There is no way in hell marijuana caused this kind of reaction.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:44amSo, ANYONE out there BRAINLESS enough to believe that this was caused BY marijuana? I am sorry, but I have known many pot smokers thru-out my life (who smoked Satvias, and Indicas) and NOT ONE has EVER been anything close to aggressive, let alone to the point of a vicious attack such as this one.. If that is the best answer they can come up with, then clearly their “expert” is not much of an expert at all… True, pot will make you get hungry… But I have NEVER seen a case of the munchies leading to someone trying to EAT a person…
Either this man was on LSD of some sorts (which is undetectable by most drug tests) OR he had some underlying mental issue that had been triggered by some sort of stimulus..
Demonizing Marijuana is a hallow argument, and anyone who tries to make it the “villian” in this case is quite simply 100% mistaken… I am no religious zelot, but even I would believe that this is the work of Satan, over the work of Marijuana anyday…
“expert” my eye…..
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:39amOh Jeeze.. “Satan.” Here we go again…. whatever satisfies you.
Report Post »honestthought
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:31amPOT is known to trigger schizophrenic reactions in some. Given the heat, possible dehydration, etc, it could have been.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:36amI smoked pot regularly from about 16 years old to about 35 years old…It never once made me violent or cannibalistic it was about the same as a happy hour cocktail after work. Truth is they don’t know what set this guy off….But I’ll clue them in HE WAS EFFING CRAZY….Drugs normally amplify a person personality…allowing them to drop their inhabitions and become who they really are.
Report Post »kevinthewriter
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:35amThis is the worst case of the munchies I’ve ever heard of.
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:31am@equaljustice
You have a point there.
Retired Soldier
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:22am“It could have been the strain of marijuana that increases the dopamine in the brain, such as sativa,” said Dr. Patricia Junquera, assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
No…no it couldn’t have.
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:04amLet’s see. A black man eats the face off of a white man. Where is the President making comments like,“ the victim could look like my father in law”? Where is Sharpton? Where is Jackson? Where is the outrage from the community? This was obviously a hate crime against a poor white man.
Report Post »Toxic Pirate
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:47amThis is the only national news chain I have seen this follow up. The world refuses to acknowlege the acceptence of pure evil. Also, Eye surgury, facial reconstruction, has to run into the mid 6 figure range, guess whose going to pay for that! Do you think they actually might dry him out as well, I doubt it.
Report Post »Rashomon
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:40amCome on, who knows what drug lords are putting in the drugs. you think the fda is check’n your zhit?
Report Post »Cleats4Feets
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:36amImagine what all these losers will do when the government defults on the debt and the food cards stop? There will be a bunch of hungry Obummer Zombies running around! Oh ya and just another reason to keep pot illegal. We have enough losers out there as it is.
Report Post »JD0341
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:09amYeah, fall into the trap. Blame weed and keep this BS War on Drugs going so we can have further militarization of the police. Papers, please!
This War on Drugs has the same goal as Fast Furious; elimination of our rights and more power for the elites in Washington. Wake the eff up, people! The .gov and police are NOT your friends. There are a few good ones out there, but the rest are either intentionally working against you or are just useful idiots; they just don’t smell as bad as the OWS variety.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:33amMeyvn, I agree with you. If bath salts were not involved, then I suspect Satan.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:41amSatan?! really?! seriously? that’s where your mind takes you on this?
Report Post »Dolt
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:27amHuh, imagine that. Yet, the media is already running wild with the “Bath Salts” stories left and right. Including here on The Blaze and on Drudge. It’s kind of funny how it suddenly became an “epidemic” right at a time many places were trying to make it illegal to add to that oh, so successful war on drugs BS. … and then it turns out it was false. But the hysteria is already out there, so what do facts really matter, anyway, right?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:25amThere have been similar attacks in different parts of the country and bath salts have been attributed as the cause. I have questioned that because the accusation has come too quickly, no time for toxicology tests to be done.
That said, something awful is happening to people, causing them to do bizarre and horrendous things. The authorities don‘t have the answer yet and I certainly don’t know but someone needs to find out soon and then tell us the truth.
I do not believe that marijuana is the cause unless it is being laced with some new exotic, manmade chemical.
Report Post »Angel_light
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:44am“I do not believe that marijuana is the cause unless it is being laced with some new exotic, manmade chemical.”
That’s what I was thinking
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:11amI would say the guy was mentally unstable. I have never heard of ANY drug that would turn you into a cannibal. Why don’t they check out his mental state. Oh yeah, he has no mental state. He’s dead.
If was shot he can never do this again. God Bless the 2nd Amendment.
Report Post »charleyrocks
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:09amI don’t think mj had anything to do with it he was just mentally unstable.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:08amDemonic.
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