Autumn Crittendon, a former participant on the reality television series “16 and Pregnant,” tragically passed away on July 20 due to an accidental overdose. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed that the lethal combination of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid analgesic, was the cause of the 27-year-old’s death. Crittendon, also known as Oxley, was found unresponsive in her home.
Para-fluorofentanyl was initially synthesized for research purposes in the 1960s, according to the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. This drug, when combined with fentanyl, resulted in Crittendon’s premature death.
On the day of Crittendon’s passing, paramedics from the Henrico County Police Department in Virginia were dispatched to her residence. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The police department initiated a death investigation, working in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to ascertain the exact cause and manner of death.
Crittendon was discovered by her stepfather in the home they shared with her mother and her children. The former reality TV star was a mother to three children. Her first child, a son named Drake, was born in December 2013 with Dustin Franklin. 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.