COSTA RICA NEWS – Almost six months after his death, an autopsy determined that Matteo Quintavalle, the controversial businessman, dies of cyanide poisoning.
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) confirmed Tuesday the forensic results and will now focus on how the substance got into the Italian’s body.
Authorities say that Quintavalle, who was found dead on the morning of March 28 of this year, hours before a hearing on the latest criminal charges he had been facing over last several years, ingested a high dose of cyanide.
On his nightstand, the OIJ confirmed finding two bottles of water, apparently with high residue of the poison.
At this point the OIJ is cannot confirm if the death was a suicide or homicide, only that they will be continuing the investigation now that they have the coroner’s report.
Cyanide poisoning is a form of histotoxic hypoxia because the cells of an organism are unable to use oxygen. Cyanide causes a coma with seizures, apnea, and cardiac arrest, with death following in a matter of seconds. At lower doses, loss of consciousness may be preceded by general weakness, giddiness, headaches, vertigo, confusion, and perceived difficulty in breathing. fatal dose for humans can be as low as 1.5 mg/kg body weight.
Cyanide salts are sometimes used as fast-acting suicide devices. Since cyanide works better with higher stomach acidity, it should, in theory, work best with an empty stomach.
