New information has led a coroner to rule the death of a Victoria woman in 2021 a homicide

New evidence in the 2021 death of an 18-year-old Victoria woman after a house party has led to the death being reclassified as a homicide.

The British Columbia Coroner’s Service reclassified the death of Samantha Sims-Somerville after reopening the inquest in March.

“Further investigation revealed evidence that Samantha and her friend had been intentionally administered an unregulated substance, without their knowledge, by another person at the residence,” the coroner said in his updated report.

“Based on the totality of information reviewed as part of this investigation, the evidence establishes that Samantha intentionally obtained GHB from another individual.”

According to a report from the British Columbia Coroner’s Office, on the night of April 9, 2021, Sims-Somerville and two friends attended a house party in Victoria. Emergency services were called at almost 3am after she and her friend were unresponsive, causing concern for passers-by.

“BC Fire and Emergency Services personnel arrived at the residence and began CPR on Samantha and her friend. The police arrived at the residence a few seconds later,” the report says. “Firefighters and paramedics continued to save lives while transporting Samantha and her friend to the Royal Jubilee Hospital.”

She underwent a CT scan at Sims-Somerville Hospital, which revealed signs of severe anoxic brain injury. Her condition continued to deteriorate and she died on the afternoon of April 10, 2021. Her friend survived after “intensive” medical treatment.

An autopsy was performed, which revealed she had traces of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which can cause respiratory depression and failure.

The coroner’s office initially closed the investigation in January but reopened it in March because of new information that was not available during the original investigation, according to the report.

In an emailed statement, the Victoria Police Department said it had provided all of its evidence to the Crown attorney as the investigation was ongoing and had decided not to press charges.

“At this time, it is too early to determine whether any further action will be taken on this file,” the statement said.

Although the coroner ruled the death a homicide, they said the term “homicide” is a neutral term and does not imply guilt or accusation because the office’s investigations are “fact-finding, not guilt-finding,” according to a coroner’s spokesman.