New Details Released By Coroner On Deaths Of Two Bucks County Inmates

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Bucks County Coroner's Office has released new information on the recent deaths of two inmates from the Bucks County Correctional Facility in Doylestown.

Melissa Mager, 48, of Philadelphia, died March 1 at Doylestown Health, according to Coroner Meredith Buck. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, said Buck.

Bucks County Detectives and the Department of Corrections Investigations Unit are also investigating the woman’s death, county officials said.

Buck also released the cause of death for Octavius Davis, 35, of Bristol Township, who died at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on January 16. An autopsy was performed on January 17.

He died from a combined drug intoxication with 7-amino clonazepam, mirtazapine, xylazine, and fentanyl, said Buck. The office has ruled the death accidental.

An autopsy revealed no signs of physical trauma. Forensic toxicological tests on blood samples taken at autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl and xylazine as well as the other drug substances, according to the coroner.

“Mr. Davis had two prescription drugs, 7-amino-clonazepam and mirtazapine, and two illicit drug substances, xylazine and fentanyl, in his system when he died,” said Buck.

“Following national standards, we identify all drugs present on the death certificate. In this case, the level of fentanyl was 7.2 ng/mL so the drug would have contributed significantly to his death," said Buck. "Mr. Davis had been incarcerated for almost two weeks at the time of his death, indicating these drugs entered his system while he was in prison.”

7-amino-clonazepam is a break-down product of the benzodiazepine, clonazepam, and mirtazapine is an antidepressant medication. Xylazine, a large animal sedative, is now commonly identified in drug overdose deaths in the Philadelphia area, especially when fentanyl is present, according to the coroner's office.

On February 28, the Food and Drug Administration announced steps to limit the entry of xylazine into the country for illicit purposes, according to Buck. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been involved in approximately 70 percent of drug overdose deaths in Bucks County in recent years, the coroner said.