The cause of death for Amber Evans, a 28-year-old whose body was recovered in late March in Ohio after going missing in January, was drowning, officials said on June 6.
According to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, both Diphenhydramine and Acetaminophen were found in Evans’ system, reported 10 TV. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the former is used to relieve allergies, colds, motion sickness, and insomnia while the latter is used to relieve pain from headaches, muscle aches, colds, and other adverse conditions.
The Acetaminophen page contains a warning that “taking too much … can cause liver damage, sometimes serious enough to require liver transplantation or cause death.”
The report said Evans had “toxic levels” of both drugs in her system and said that she committed suicide.
Amber Evans, a well-known activist in Central Ohio, has died by suicide, according to the Franklin County Coroner. https://t.co/moGQ0e9jDi pic.twitter.com/l4cqjBq1LA
— WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) June 6, 2019
Evans vanished on Jan. 28 after getting into an argument with her boyfriend. Police said there wasn’t a history of domestic violence.
Her father Brian Peters told Refinery29 prior to the body being found: “At this point, she just vanished from downtown. I am not one to speculate but things just don’t add up.”
“I have a real hard time believing that she was suicidal or severely depressed but, who knows? Maybe she hid it well. … I know always dealing with negative situations and constantly fighting for something can take its toll,” he added.
Evans was found in the Scioto River on March 23.
Amber Evans’ death ruled a suicide by Franklin County Coroner https://t.co/nxNHRNE9Mj pic.twitter.com/u0Qyrcg1PZ
— WTTE FOX 28 (@fox28columbus) June 6, 2019
“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them,” the Columbus Police Department said in a statement.
Evans was involved with the group Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Columbus.
“Anyone who knew Amber knows that she was extremely disciplined and dedicated to struggling for a better world. She treated everyone with dignity and when you spoke, it always felt like she truly was listening. She was a fighter and we will continue her legacy,” said Tynan Krakoff, lead organizer for the group, in a statement.
According to Evans’s Facebook page, she was also the director of organizing and policy at the Juvenile Justice Coalition.
Community activist Amber Evans had toxic levels of over-the-counter drugs in her system when she drowned in the Scioto River (Via @DispatchAlerts) https://t.co/FT6lpqVOPP
— Megan Henry (@megankhenry) June 6, 2019
After the body was identified, Tonya Fischer, Evans’s mother, took to Facebook to ask for privacy.
“I’m coming on here as a mother … who has just found out that I lost my firstborn child,” Fischer said during an emotional Facebook Live video, according to WSYX. “I love you all, and you all know I’m more than willing to accept all that you have to give … but just give me a moment. Just a moment. Give my family a moment.”
Prior to the discovery of the body, police said that there was no evidence of foul play. Evans’s vehicle was found near downtown Scioto and her purse was locked in the trunk.
River conditions had delayed the search, police said.
