The family of former American Swimming Champion Jamie Cail released graphic images in their efforts to prove the 42-year-old died as a result of foul play.
Cail was found dead in February, and the results of the autopsy stated her cause of death was due to “fentanyl intoxication with aspiration of gastric content, and documents state her death was “accidental,” according to Insider. Her family pushed back on the allegations of drug use by releasing a graphic image of her badly damaged face.
“We have decided to release the photo because we need everybody to understand that Jamie was not a fentanyl user — that she had actually been beaten,” Jessica DeVries, Cail’s cousin, told Insider. “Jamie’s face was smashed in, the top of her skull and her nose.”
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“We know that Jamie did not ingest fentanyl intentionally. There is definitely foul play,” DeVries said, according to Insider.
The US Virgin Islands Police Department was investigating Cail’s death and released details of the autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office August 22.
DeVries reportedly challenged the authorities’ conclusion about the cause of Cail’s death and called it an “atrocity.” Devries said the photos a trusted family source took of Cail’s body demonstrated clearly “somebody put their hands on Jamie,” according to Insider.
“Her face is bashed in. Did fentanyl do that to her?” DeVrries said.
The images provided to Insider reportedly showed severe bruising around Cail’s left eye as well as a mark on her nose. They were reportedly not published due to their graphic nature.
DeVries said the family feels they were “completely failed” by the US Virgin Islands Police Department, per Insider.
“We want transparency and we want justice,” DeVries said, according to Insider. (RELATED: Former Olympic Swimmer Helen Hart Dies At 43)
DeVries said she “is completely devastated to have Jamie’s name tarnished in this way.”
“Jamie was not a fentanyl user or an opioid user of any kind. She did not do drugs,” DeVries said. “She was a national, international swimmer who deserves the honor of that because she was amazing and dedicated her life to that.”
Cail was a former US national team swimmer who won gold in the 800 freestyle relay at the 1997 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.