Crime & Safety

Updated: McLean High School Student's Death Ruled 'Accidental'

Emylee Lonczak was found dead in an affluent Vienna neighborhood in August.

The state medical examiner's office has ruled the death of 16-year-old Emylee Lonczak of McLean was an "accident" caused by her body's reaction to illegal drugs and an over-the-counter antihistamine.

Lonczak was found dead Aug. 23 behind some bushes in an affluent Vienna neighborhood. It was less than two weeks before what would have been the start of her junior year at McLean High School.

Lonczak's manner of death was ruled an "accident," according to the state medical examiner's office in Manassas. The office determined the cause to be due to the "adverse effects of heroin and diphenhydramine."

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Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in antihistamines like Benadryl. It's also found in some sleep aids, like Tylenol PM.

On Aug. 21, Lonczak went out with two adult men, and the group traveled out-of-state to buy drugs from a third man, according to past reports. All four used the drugs, and the group noticed Lonczak needed medical attention the next morning as they were returning home, but did nothing about it, according to a Washington Post report at the time.

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In September, Fairfax County police began searching four Facebook accounts, looking for photos or written clues as to what happened the night of Lonczak's death, NBC4 reported at the time.

No charges have been filed in this case, Fairfax County police spokesman Don Gotthardt told Patch in an email Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives do intend to file charges at some point, he stated.

The case remains an open and active investigation.

This article was updated to include the statements from police spokesman Don Gotthardt.


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