A San Jose family is mourning the death of their beloved daughter and sister, who died after from an suspected fentanyl overdose. The mother of 19-year-old Crystal Martinez’s told KRON4 that she not believes her daughter was aware that the pill she took contained the lethal drug.
Martinez died on Saturday, November 9, after returning home from work.
Her mother, Estela Martinez-Mendoza, said she was lying down on the couch when her 11-year-old daughter approached her and informed her that Crystal was sleeping and would not wake up.
Martinez-Mendoza went to check on her but couldn’t wake her up. She administered CPR and called 911. Paramedics pronounced Crystal dead.
According to Martinez-Mendoza, Crystal was given a pill by a friend after informing them she had a headache.
When police arrived on the scene, they informed Martinez-Mendoza that they discovered pills that appeared to be Tylenol but were suspected of containing fentanyl.
Martinez-Mendoza is still trying to determine who gave her daughter the pill. She is waiting to hear back from the San Jose Police Department regarding the investigation.
“To be honest, I don’t think she knew what she was taking because through the week she told me she felt overworked,” Martinez-Mendoza admitted to KRON4.
Crystal was working two jobs: caretaker and at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse.
Her mother described her as strong, loving, and caring. Before her death, Crystal had planned a “sister date” at the mall with her 11-year-old sister.
“Crystal was an extremely happy person. Always caring. “She enjoyed caring for the elderly,” Martinez-Mendoza explained.
Following her daughter’s tragic death, Martinez-Mendoza has a message for other parents: keep your children close, even as they grow into adults.
“We have to be very careful with our children and teenagers, even if they are 18 or 19. Martinez-Mendoza said, “We have to be cautious and see who they are hanging out with, as well as sit down with their children.” “Check their backpacks, purses, cellphones.”
Mendoza-Martinez has set up a GoFundMe for Crystal’s funeral expenses.
