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Cocaine overdose killed student, examiner finds
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Andria Ziegler
The cause of death for a 19-year-old female Paradise Valley Community College student who died after a visit to her psychology professor's home in April has been determined to be an accidental cocaine overdose.
Prof. told 911 PVCC student used drugs, alcohol
Teen who died after visit with PVCC prof mourned
However, no alcohol was in Andria Ziegler's system, according to information released by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday.
Ziegler, a Phoenix resident, was pronounced dead at 3:18 a.m. April 20 at John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital in Phoenix, about 45 minutes after paramedics discovered her in a comatose state at the north Phoenix home of Michael Todd, 51, according to Phoenix police.
Ziegler's death is being investigated as an unknown homicide, and Phoenix police Detective Stacie Derge had said that Todd was not a suspect in her death and that no suspects were being pursued.
However, police could not be reached for comment after Ziegler's cause of death was released by the county medical examiner's office on Wednesday.
During a nine-minute 911 call Todd made moments before paramedics arrived at his home, Todd told a dispatcher, "Well, we sat around, uh, while she did some coke."
Todd also said Ziegler drank 17 beers, according to a Phoenix police report.
Ziegler's stepfather, Doug McManus, told the Tribune on Wednesday although they figured her death would be drug-related, there are still a lot of unanswered questions involving Andria's death.
"She was 19 years old and healthy when she went to his home," McManus said. "It's the circumstances surrounding her death we are suspicious about."
Todd told the 911 dispatcher Ziegler refused to leave his residence and he let her sleep on the couch before he went upstairs to bed.
Todd said when he returned downstairs about 90 minutes later, he could not wake her, according to the police report.
Workers at the county medical examiner's office told the Tribune Wednesday that a more complete autopsy report would be released early today.
Todd was notified on May 9 that college officials would be moving forward with firing him from his job for violating the college's policy prohibiting instructors from having romantic relationships with students.
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