The death of hospitality business senior Michael Wolcott was caused by an accidental mixing of medications, according to a report received from the Ingham County Medical Examiner last week.
On Oct. 29, 2010, Wolcott took a double — though nonlethal — dose of Xanax and a normal dosage of pain medication for an injury he suffered in September. According to Wolcott’s father, Roger Wolcott, Michael Wolcott suffered a tachycardia episode that same night, where his heart rate accelerated and oxygen exchange to the brain was compromised.
Roger Wolcott said police reports indicated friends of Michael Wolcott said he noticed nothing unusual during the episode with the exception of a quicker heart beat.
The effects of the medication, together with a bout of pneumonia he was suffering at the time and his severe asthma, all contributed to the lack of oxygen and Michael Wolcott’s death, according to the toxicology report.
According to police, on the morning of Oct. 30, 2010, a friend woke to Michael Wolcott’s snores at about 9 a.m. A few minutes later, another friend noticed he did not look well. When unable to rouse Michael Wolcott from his sleep, the men called the East Lansing Police Department while administering CPR. When the police arrived, they found Michael Wolcott did not have a pulse.
Michael P. Smith, the director of toxicology at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital, said he believed the cause of death was related closely to the effects of the medication. Smith authorized Michael Wolcott’s toxicology report.
“Xanax slows everything down and morphine does the same thing,” Smith said. “One of those alone probably wouldn’t kill someone, but when you get drugs that act in the same way … they act in synergy with each other. One and one equal three, the effects are compounded.”
East Lansing police Capt. Tom Johnstone confirmed the death was accidental and no alcohol was involved. Johnstone said deaths caused by mixing drugs are a rare occurrence in East Lansing.
“We have had stuff in our past with different chemicals,” Johnstone said. “Most involved alcohol. … I wouldn’t call it a common occurrence.”
Smith said the level of morphine found in Michael Wolcott — 172 nanograms — was normal. However, the level of alprazolam, an ingredient in Xanax, was 63.8 nanograms — more than twice the normal dosage. However, Smith said the drugs were not taken with malicious intent.
“When someone has committed suicide and taken an overdose, they found averages of 550 nanogram (to) 580 nanograms, so it’s a lot higher than what (Michael Wolcott had),” Smith said.
Roger Wolcott said time has not marred the memory of his son.
“He was a complex individual,” Roger Wolcott said. “He laughed, he cried, some days he wore his heart on his sleeve and other days he was hard. But I remember everything.”
Roger Wolcott said the support from the MSU community and the East Lansing Police Department has been constant since his son’s death.
“Every time an MSU student dies, a piece of the community dies,” Roger Wolcott said. “We’re all in this together.”
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