Mesa Verde death ruled an accident

Deepa Bharath

The death of a 32-year-old Mesa Verde woman found unconscious in her

home last month was an accident, Orange County Coroner officials said

Thursday.

Jessica Rothfuss, who was described by her neighbors as a sweet

girl and a young wife eager to settle into her new home, died of

alcohol poisoning, toxicology reports released on Thursday showed.

Rothfuss’ death was probably the result of some sort of fatal

combination of medication and alcohol, Costa Mesa Police Det. Sgt.

Jack Archer said.

“We’ve determined that it’s an accident,” he said. “The case is

closed.”

But the coroner’s findings “won’t do anything” for Rothfuss’

parents, who are reeling from the sudden and untimely loss of their

dear daughter.

“It’s not supposed to happen this way,” said her mother, Connie

Owen, who lives in Montana. “We’re the parents. We’re supposed to go

first.”

No amount of tests or results would bring her daughter back, Owen

said.

“I don’t think anything will give me closure,” she said. “It’s a

huge loss in our lives that maybe only time can heal.”

John Rothfuss, Jessica’s husband, declined to comment.

Rothfuss’ co-workers at Wells Fargo Bank in Irvine said they were

somewhat relieved by the autopsy results.

“She will be sorely missed,” her boss, Dave Ritchie, said. “She

was a tremendous asset to our company not only as an employee but as

a friend to all of us. She always had a positive attitude.”

Rothfuss had worked there for about 10 years, he said.

For Owen, the challenge will be to sort through all the

information about her daughter’s death and make sense of it all, she

said.

“But the truth is, she’s gone, and nothing’s going to bring her

back,” she said. “But she lives on forever in our hearts.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.