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Cocaine found in Haley VA patient

Although the patient had "questionable visitors," his death is unlikely to be ruled a homicide, officials say.

By PAUL DE LA GARZA
Published October 5, 2006

TAMPA - A 73-year-old patient who died under "unusual circumstances" at James A. Haley VA Medical Center tested positive for cocaine, according to a preliminary hospital review.

Investigators think it's likely a female visitor provided Nelson "Sonny" D'Amico of Tampa with the drug on Sept. 28. A technician discovered him "lying on the floor in a pool of his blood" Friday night.

"Subsequent to her visit, the nursing staff noted the patient was acting differently," the preliminary review obtained by the St. Petersburg Times said. "The house officer ordered a drug screen which indicated positive for cocaine." The house officer is the doctor responsible for inpatients during nonbusiness hours at Haley, the nation's busiest VA hospital.

The case is under investigation by the Office of the Inspector General at the Veterans Affairs Department and the homicide division of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Spokesman Dick Bailey of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office said Wednesday homicide investigators were notified because of the unusual circumstances surrounding D'Amico's death. The medical examiner noted D'Amico had "questionable visitors" before he died.

Bailey said the medical examiner is awaiting the results of toxicology tests before determining a cause of death, which could take more than a month.

The Haley review said D'Amico, an Air Force veteran and former owner of Sonny's Sandwich Shop on East Broadway in Tampa, had coronary disease and advanced cancer of the head and neck. It also said he did not die from a fall.

"The medical examiner reports that if toxicology tests return negative for cocaine, then he will cite coronary artery disease as the cause of death," according to the preliminary review. "If the tests return positive for cocaine, then he will cite accidental cocaine overdose as the cause of death."

Bailey and sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said it's common practice to involve the homicide unit in any case of unexplained death.

They said it's unlikely D'Amico's death will be ruled a homicide, although it appears the unidentified female visitor brought D'Amico the cocaine.

Deputy Inspector General Jon Wooditch confirmed VA investigators were involved in the case but declined further comment. Haley spokeswoman Carolyn Clark declined comment because of the ongoing investigation.

D'Amico's family could not be reached Wednesday.

Paul de la Garza can be reached at delagarza@sptimes.com or 813-226-3432.

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 01:01:43]