Fire chief's doctor fiancée died of drug cocktail 3 years after his ex shot dead
The doctor fiancée of a fire chief whose ex was found shot to death in his bathroom died of a lethal cocktail of drugs, according to her autopsy report.
Dr Sarah Sweeney, a 39-year-old podiatrist, was discovered lifeless in the home of her fiancé, local fire captain Robert Daus, in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 13. Her death sparked an investigation into the death of another woman who had been engaged to Mr Daus four years after she also passed away.
A toxicology report from the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Dr Sweeney's cause of death is attributed to drug intoxication. However, authorities have marked the manner of her passing as "undetermined."
READ MORE: Mum found locked in bathroom holding gun months before killing herself in front of fiancé
Dr Sarah Sweeney was discovered lifeless in the home of her fiancé, local fire captain Robert Daus, in St. Louis, Missouri (Creve Coeur Police)The toxicological findings unveiled a lethal combination of substances in Dr Sweeney's system, including Oxycodone, Gabapentin, and Diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl. Apart from the presence of these drugs, no apparent signs of physical trauma were detected on Dr Sweeney's body, and investigators believe she was alone at the time of her death, according to the Frontenac Police Department.
Russian soldiers must be on drugs to commit 'very violent acts' seen in Ukraine
Police said: "Dr Sarah Sweeney was found deceased inside her Village of Westwood residence in the early morning of January 13, 2024. Dr. Sweeney was found with no obvious signs of trauma discovered on her body, and our investigation, at this point, supports that she was home alone leading up to her death.
"The St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a post-mortem examination and toxicology analysis relative to the death investigation of Dr. Sweeney, and concluded her immediate cause of death was 'Oxycodone, Gabapentin, and Diphenhydramine intoxication.' The manner of death is 'Undetermined.' Investigators are continuing to gather information; therefore, this case remains an active investigation."
Missouri firefighter Robert Daus has denied any wrongdoing (Facebook/Robert Daus)
Robert Daus, a fire captain and ex-fiancé of Grace Holland (Justice for Grace Holland)Dr Sweeney is the second woman engaged to Mr Daus to meet an untimely death after Grace Holland died in 2020. Ms Holland's case was initially ruled as a suicide, but her family contested the ruling, citing inconsistencies in the evidence.
Following Dr Sweeney's demise, authorities have reopened the investigation into Ms Holland's death, maintaining an "active" stance on the case. Despite these troubling circumstances, Mr Daus, a captain at the Maryland Heights Fire Department, has not been named a suspect in either case and denies any involvement in the tragedies.
Dr Sweeney, originally from West Virginia, had relocated to Missouri to pursue her career aspirations, opening her own podiatry practice in Creve Coeur. She was described as a vibrant and compassionate person by her loved ones.
"We just wish we could have her back," said her mother Teresa Sweeney Light. "We just want closure, we want it to be truthful and fair, and as of right now, we're still in shock."
Dr. Sarah Sweeney cause of death was drug intoxication (Sweeney Family)Dr Sweeney is said to have met Mr Daus when she was working in an emergency room not long after her move to St Louis, according to her mother. According to her obituary, she was a lover of dogs and cats as well as a "vibrant and outgoing person who never, ever met a stranger".
Her attorney told local news days after her death she "absolutely had a life-threatening" condition with court records indicating she had a bone disorder and mast cell activation disorder. Her obituary said she was diagnosed with Perthes Disease at six years old, which caused Dr Sweeney to experience "much physical pain throughout her life".
A statement from the Sweeney family read: "Our family has complete confidence in the thorough investigation made by the St Louis County Medical Examiner’s office and the Frontenac Police Department. We’d like to thank them for their hard work on this case, and for their kindness and compassion when communicating with us.
Robert Daus with ex-fiancée Grace Holland, who was found shot dead (Justice for Grace Holland)"There is still an ongoing police investigation, so we kindly ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We have no further comments to make. Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives soon so that we can grieve, move on, and continue to honour the memory of our Sarah."
Real-life Breaking Bad university professor accused of selling crystal meth
Federal court filings shed light on a darker aspect of the case. In legal documents as part of a suit he brought against her former employer and its founder in 2022, she expressed fear of Daus, labelling him as "suspected of murdering a previous girlfriend," adding layers of complexity to the investigation and raising questions about the couple's relationship.
Sweeny reportedly emailed a friend saying: "But guess what Danielle? I've been homeless, I have had to move in with my boyfriend the 'murderer' which has been scary at times, I've lost every penny and closed out my savings account, I have had issues getting a job bc of my past affiliation with him, I have suffered…I have been through the ringer."
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If in the United States, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
