New evidence in the 2021 death of an 18-year-old Victoria woman after a house party has led to the reclassification of that death as a homicide.
The B.C. Coroners Service has reclassified the death of Samantha Sims-Somerville after reopening the investigation in March.
“Follow-up investigation revealed evidence that Samantha and her friend were intentionally provided an unregulated substance, without their knowledge, by another individual in the residence,” the coroner said in its updated report.
“Based on the totality of information considered as part of this investigation, the evidence supports that Samantha was intentionally provided the GHB by another person.”
According to a report from the B.C. Coroners Service, on the night of April 9, 2021, Sims-Somerville and two friends attended a house party in Victoria. At almost 3 a.m. emergency services were contacted because she and her friend were unresponsive, prompting concern from bystanders.
"Fire department personnel and BC Emergency Services paramedics arrived at the residence and began resuscitative efforts for Samantha and her friend. Police arrived at the residence moments later," noted the report. "Fire personnel and paramedics continued life-saving measures while transporting Samantha and her friend to the Royal Jubilee Hospital."
At the hospital, Sims-Somerville underwent a CT scan which showed signs of severe anoxic brain injury. Her condition continued to deteriorate, and she died on the afternoon of April 10, 2021. Her friend survived after "intensive" medical treatment.
An autopsy was performed that showed she had traces of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which can cause respiratory suppression and failure.
The Coroners Service initially closed the investigation in January but reopened it in March due to new information that was not available during the original investigation, according to the report.
In an emailed statement, the Victoria Police department said they provided all of their evidence to the Crown counsel as the investigation was ongoing, who made the decision not to pursue charges.
"At this time it is too early to determine whether there will be any further action on this file," noted the statement.
Though the coroner ruled the death as a homicide, they said the term homicide is a neutral term and does not imply fault or blame as investigations from the office are "fact-finding, not fault-finding," according to the coroners' spokesperson.
