SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Cause of Death Determined in Case Involving Two Young Adults In Milton

Investigators with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office have finished their investigation into the death of two young adults that had been found in a Milton Waterway on August 19 th. (See original press release below) Autopsy results concluded that there were no injuries or trauma to either victim. Toxicology reports showed that both victims had acute difluoroethane intoxication. Difluoroethane is a component of “canned air”, a compressed air cleaning spray, which can be abused as an inhalant causing reactions that can include intoxication or a “high”, nerve damage, loss of hearing, vision impairment, and death. This acute difluoroethane intoxication was a contributory cause to both victims drowning in the water. The investigation revealed a store receipt inside the vehicle that was found at the scene belonging to one of the victims. The receipt revealed that a can of “canned air” had been purchased by the victims at a local retail store the night of their death. Investigators also located an empty can of “canned air” floating in Marquis Basin which was confirmed to be the same item with the same product code that had been purchased from the retail store. The medical Examiner's Office official diagnosis as to the cause of death is an accidental drowning with a contributory cause as being acute difluoroethane intoxication. The inhalation of the vapors of common household products, including hair spray, gasoline, lighter fluid, shoe polish, paint thinner, and glue, as well as canned air, is commonly referred to as the act of “huffing”. Unfortunately, “huffing” is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of drug abuse among teenagers. The intentional misuse of aerosol products to achieve a “high” is a very dangerous activity that may seem harmless to teens that are not familiar with the common consequences. The Sheriff's Office urges parents and teens to become educated about the serious consequences relating to this type of intentional product misuse abuse.

Sheriff's Office Investigating the Death of Two Young Adults Found in Water in Milton

Investigators with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office are currently investigating the death of two eighteen year old victims that were found dead in a local waterway in Milton. At approximately 7:30 am this morning, deputies were dispatched to the Marquis Basin Boat Ramp on Gillespie Road in East Milton. A local boater that was launching his boat observed two subjects appearing to be deceased underneath the water directly off the dock at the boat ramp. When deputies and emergency personnel arrived, it was confirmed that two subjects, a male and a female, were submerged in the water, confirmed to be dead. A vehicle of one of the subjects was present in the parking lot. The cause of death is not known at this time and it is currently being investigated as a death investigation. The subjects are believed to have died sometime over the past night. Both subjects were identified this morning and their next of kin have been notified. The identities of the deceased are listed below. The two victims are acquaintances, according to friends and family. Autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow. No other information is available at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Deceased:

MCCRANIE, AMBER, W/F 9/23/1988 , Pace, FL

MCCURLEY, ZACKERY, B/M 9/2/1988 , Milton , FL

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net