Parents of a 23-year-old Connecticut woman are searching for more answers from the police after their daughter was found dead at her residence following a date with an older White man. According to News 12 Westchester, Lauren Smith-Fields was found unresponsive at her residence on December 12. She was later pronounced dead.
The deceased woman’s parents said she was a track athlete at Stamford High School and also a student at Norwalk Community College for cosmetology. The medical examiner is yet to reveal her cause of death.
“Without a doubt we know that my daughter was not a drug user, and I had a second autopsy myself paid out of pocket because we felt so uncomfortable with the way it was handled,” Smith-Fields’ father said.
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Her family also said an “older white man” their daughter met on a dating app was the person who called police to notify them about her death. Smith-Fields’ brother also said when he reached out to authorities for information about the White man, he was told the man was a nice guy, and he wouldn’t be investigated.
The deceased woman’s father also said the only law enforcement officer they had contact with following their daughter’s death was a “very insensitive, condescending and arrogant detective.”
Councilwoman Maria Pereira also called on the police to render an apology to Smith-Fields’ family, News 12 Westchester reported. “She sent a really well-written email – it was lengthy, it was extensive, it was very detailed – and I was shocked when she told me just yesterday she had not even received a response,” Pereira said.
Responding to the allegations, the City of Bridgeport released a statement saying Smith-Fields’ death is still being investigated. “The Bridgeport Police Department takes these concerns very seriously. The Command Staff of the Detective Bureau is reviewing the handling of this case to ensure that best practices were and are being followed,” the statement said.
“It is imperative to note that the death of Lauren Smith-Fields remains an ongoing investigation. Our department extends its deepest condolences to the family of Lauren.”
