In the summer of 2021, 13-year-old Leonie was found dead, leaning against a tree. She was allegedly drugged and raped by three Afghans. The girl was then wrapped in a rug and placed on a border of greenery. The accused are due to appear before the Vienna Regional Court for a third day on Thursday, but deny the crime. For this day of the trial, five experts are invited to provide information about the cause of death and circumstances. According to the toxicology expert, ecstasy was not the reason why Leonie died…
MDA is the name of the drug that was found in extremely high concentrations in the 13-year-old’s blood. So no ecstasy in the traditional sense, as stated in the indictment. The expert, Günter Gmeiner, explains that MDA, like ecstasy, belongs to the group of amphetamines. During the toxicological analysis, the substance was found along with several other related active ingredients. “The preparations available on the black market are not always completely pure. My experience is that what is there is usually pressed into tablets,” Gmeiner says of the narcotic mixture in Leonie’s samples.
Hyponatremia as a cause of death
In addition to urine, hair, stomach and brain samples, blood from the chambers was also examined. And that provides information about the cause of death: “The main side effect of an MDA overdose is that the sodium concentration in the blood drops. This pulls water from the blood and collects in the lungs or brain. Brain functions are reduced and the lungs do not work as they should.” This vicious circle leads to death from lack of oxygen,” continues the expert. This condition is called hyponatremia in toxicology.
Triple the lethal amount
Leonie died exactly from this “vicious circle”. “The occurrence of death without emergency medical care was almost unavoidable given the established concentration,” notes the expert. Based on the analyzes and comparable MDA preparations, he concludes that the 13-year-old must have taken about six tablets. That’s three times what is described in non-fiction books as poisonous and deadly.
Death in mysterious circumstances
Günter Gmeiner continued: “I couldn’t even remember when we had a second case of MDA overdose. Ecstasy did, but not at this concentration, which can certainly be associated with Leonie’s underweight.” Just weeks before the crime, the city of Vienna reported via Check-It that MDA ecstasy was circulating for the first time.
In addition to MDA and other amphetamines, Leonie’s body samples also contained THC, cocaine and a wormer. The toxicology expert concluded that the 13-year-old had a history of drugs. He describes an “irregular, frequent consumption”.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
