The family of a woman, who died during a Bumble date, is planning to sue the police for failing to properly investigate the case.
Lauren Smith-Fields died on December 12, aged 23 years old, while spending time with a Bumble date, who has been identified as Matthew LaFountain.
LaFountain, a 37-year-old design engineer from Connecticut, was staying at the apartment of Lauren Smith-Fields in Bridgeport when she died.
Lauren Smith-Fields died after Bumble date with Matthew LaFountain.
After meeting on dating app Bumble, Smith-Fields and LaFountain arranged to meet up and drank shots of tequila at Smith-Fields’s apartment.
Smith-Fields was found the next morning on blood-stained sheets and was pronounced dead.
The cause of her death, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, is “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol.” The death has been ruled an accident.
LaFountain has not been named as a suspect. He says he woke up at 6:30 a.m. to find blood coming from Smith-Fields’s nose and subsequently contacted 911.
Smith-Fields’ family says they are planning to sue the City of Bridgeport after becoming frustrated with the lack of progress in the case.
Her brother, Lakeem Jetter, claims the police should have collected more items for evidence, including lubricant, a used condom, and cups with alcohol in them which were found in the apartment.
The family claims that the detective responsible for the case had told them to stop contacting him and did not seem interested in the case.
However, Rebecca Garcia, acting police chief at Bridgeport Police Department, said the unit takes these concerns “very seriously” and noted that the case was still under investigation.
Lauren Smith-Fields’s family goes after Bridgeport Police Department.
Darnell Crosland, attorney for Smith-Fields’s family, says the Department of Justice should come and investigate the police department.
Mr. Crosland stated: “If we need DOJ to come in here to figure out what’s happening in Bridgeport, we’re going to do that, and I think the commission should be on our side.”
Lauren Smith-Fields’s mother, Shantell Fields, also said this week: “What are you going to do to change this situation? How are you going to move forward handling how you handle Black women, Black people, people of color. I want you to know; the whole world is watching how the Bridgeport Police Department is handling this case.”
The police should have looked at other evidence, the relatives say. The family is planning to hire a private investigator and made arrangements for a private autopsy.
Crosland said that not enough is done to find Black women and girls who are missing across the US and around the world.
Brenda Lee Rawls died in similar fashion.
They have joined forces with relatives of Brenda Lee Rawls, 53, who also died on the same day two months ago in strange circumstances.
Rawls was found dead at someone else’s home, and police found no signs of trauma or foul play. The families said that the two cases were mishandled by the Bridgeport Police Department.
Dorothy Washington, one of Brenda Lee Rawls’s sisters, explained: “I want it done right, and I do not believe Bridgeport Connecticut police department can do that. I don’t think they’re competent. Why did the police department treat us like trash.”
Mayor Joe Ganim put out a statement after the two families met this week with the Bridgeport Police Commission. It read: “I am reaffirming my continued commitment to get the answers that they deserve, and so that they may each properly grieve the loss of their valued family member and loved one.”
Rawls’s family was never notified of her death. Two detectives linked to the cases have now been suspended.
