Community Corner

Ex Fox News Anchor's Son Died Of Opioid Overdose, Father Says

Eric Bolling Sr. of Demarest said Thursday that the overdose his son Eric Bolling Jr. experienced was accidental and included opioids.

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Eric Bolling Jr., the son of a former Fox News anchor from Demarest, died of an accidental drug overdose, which included opioids, his father announced Thursday.

Bolling Jr. was found dead Sept. 8 in his Boulder, Colorado, home. He was a second-year student at the University of Colorado, CNN previously reported.

Eric Bolling Sr. announced on Twitter Thursday that he received information from the Boulder County Coroner's office regarding his son's death.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Just received some tragic news from Coroner in Colorado. Eric Chase’s passing has been ruled an accidental overdose that included opioids," the elder Bolling said. "Adrienne and I thank you for your continued prayers and support. We must fight against this national epidemic, too many innocent victims."

Bolling Sr. parted ways with Fox News last month after an investigation into allegations that he sent female colleagues lewd text messages, HuffPost originally reported. His son died hours after Fox News cancelled "The Specialists," a show his father co-hosted.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Bolling Jr., 19, died of "mixed drug intoxication," according to the Boulder County coroner's office, NJ.com reported, citing the autopsy report.

Bolling Jr. died in his bed with the covers over him; there was no suicide note and no drug paraphernalia or pill bottles near the body, TMZ.com reported.

The coroner ruled that Eric Chase Bolling, 19, died from a combination of cocaine and fentanyl, Dailycamera.com reported. Toxicology tests conducted also showed the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, along with caffeine and alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication known as Xanax, the report said.

Bolling Jr. reportedly suffered "emotional torture" over his father leaving the network, HuffPost originally reported — something his father denies.

"I believe it is beyond inappropriate for anyone to bring in the tragic death of my son Eric Chase Bolling," Bolling Sr. told Dailycamera.com. "My parting from Fox News was in no way connected to the tragic news of my son's passing."


RELATED: Eric Bolling Jr., Son Of Fired Bergen Fox News Anchor, Suffered 'Emotional Trauma' Before Death: Report


Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Image via Shutterstock

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.