Man may have died from overdose, police say

A 24-year-old Aliso Viejo man who was found dead outside the emergency room at South Coast Medical Center last week may have died from a drug overdose at a nearby location and was left at the ER by an acquaintance, according to Laguna Beach police

Russell Reeves was found dead at 4:12 a.m. Sept. 3 by a Laguna Beach police officer patrolling the South Laguna hospital complex, according to Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

“The officer drove past the emergency room area, and came upon a body, which was inside the parking lot area,” Kravetz said. “The officer stopped to investigate and noticed the young male was deceased. Detectives and crime scene investigators were notified and responded to the scene.”

The body was on the parking lot asphalt, he added.

An autopsy was completed the following day, and the results are still pending because of toxicology testing, which takes many weeks, Kravetz said.

“Investigators are looking into the possibility that the male suffered an accidental drug overdose at a nearby home and was left at the hospital by some other party involved in the incident. No witnesses were found at the scene,” he said.

Investigators have interviewed many people involved with the case and have identified those people who were with the victim at the time of his death, Kravetz said.

Nothing further can be released about the circumstances of the death because it is still under criminal investigation.