The death of Austin Beutner’s daughter, who had once run for mayor of Los Angeles, has been officially ruled a suicide. The cause was identified as a combination of prescription medications and the controversial over-the-counter supplement, kratom.
Emily Beutner, aged 22, passed away on January 6 in Los Angeles. She was found alone on the roadside and was transported to a hospital.
The LA Medical Examiner announced on Friday that her death was due to a mixture of anti-depressant and antipsychotic drugs, along with substances found in kratom, a legal herbal supplement.
Kratom, which is sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops, is under scrutiny due to its opioid-like effects and potential for high abuse.
The herbal extract is derived from the leaves of Mitragyna, a tree native to Southeast Asia. It can be consumed by chewing the leaves, brewing them into tea, or taking it in the form of powder, capsules, or extract.
Austin Beutner, who served as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2018 to 2021, withdrew from the mayoral race approximately a month after Emily’s passing.
In a statement on X, he shared, “My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter Emily. She was a magical person, the light of our lives. We are still in mourning.”
Emily was discovered alone near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Technology Drive in Palmdale at approximately 12:10 a.m. on January 6, according to an exclusive report by The Post.
Firefighters reported she was having difficulty breathing when she was transported to the hospital, where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
Upon deciding to end his mayoral campaign, Austin Beutner stated that both the campaign and the role of mayor “require someone who is committed 24/7 to the job.”
“Family has always come first for me,” he expressed. “That is where I need to be at this time.”
