A famous Santa Barbara farming couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning, a toxicology report has revealed.
Coffee and exotic-fruit farmers John “Jay” and Kristen Ruskey were found dead at their friend’s home in Cambria on February 8, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
The coroner’s report also revealed hours before paramedics were called back to the home Jay had refused their advice to seek further care at the hospital, per the Santa Barbara Independent.
According to the report, Kristen and Jay went to their room after the party about 2:30 am. Two hours later, Jay’s wife called 911 because she feared her husband was suffering from some kind of seizure.
When they arrived, she told authorities Jay was “having a bad trip” after he had eaten some chocolate laced with psychedelic mushrooms. Those who attended the party said they heard Jay throwing up and screaming.
Early signs that a person has been exposed to the toxic gas includes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic.
He was advised to go to the hospital for “a higher level of care,” which they said was based “on the totality of the circumstances and the decedent’s observed behavior,” per the report. However, he refused to go and any medical treatment.
Later that morning, the couple’s bodies were found in their room, unresponsive and not breathing.
The coroner’s report did not find any drugs in the Ruskey’s room or vehicle and no one at the party said they saw Jay take illegal drugs. A gold piece of foil was found in the room which detectives believe contained the chocolate.
Days after the couple’s death, owners of the Cambria home called police worried about the level of carbon monoxide. When authorities came out they found a carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm in the room where the couple had stayed, but the wires had been disconnected.
In a statement to the outlet, the family said the report “brings a somber clarity, we choose to focus on the incredible light they brought to the world.”
“Their legacy lives on through the trees they planted, the farmers they mentored, and the children who carry their spirit forward.”
The statement added, “Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives. For the sake of your loved ones, please have detectors installed in your home and check them regularly. They save lives.”
The pair was known locally as the founders of Good Land Organics, an exotic fruit farm, as well as a coffee business called FRINJ Coffee.
They are survived by their 19-year-old daughter Kasurina and 16-year-old twin sons Aiden and Sean, according to a GoFundMe established by family friend Jose Caballero.
The California Post reached out to the SLO sheriff’s office for further comment.
