STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University student found dead in an off-campus apartment more than a week ago died from an accidental drug overdose, Oktibbeha County Coroner Michael Hunt said.
Hunt received toxicology results from the state medical examiner, which showed Teresa Ann Veal, 20, died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin.
Veal was found unresponsive at Apartment No. 7 at Dawgs Landing Apartments on Louisville Street shortly after 1 a.m. Feb. 4.
No foul play is suspected and the investigation into Veal’s death is complete, Starkville Police Chief David Lindley said.
On Feb. 7, the SPD arrested Lance A. Kennedy, 20, who was renting the apartment where Veal was found dead. Kennedy was charged with possession of marijuana, xanax, heroin and cocaine. Also seized at the time of Kennedy’s arrest were scales, drug paraphernalia and $700 in cash, according to an SPD release. Kennedy has been released from custody after posting a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Starkville Municipal Court at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Kennedy is not a suspect in Veal’s death, Lindley said. According to MSU student newspaper The Reflector, Kennedy was a freshman kinesiology major in the fall.
Any additional arrests will be narcotics related, Lindley added.
It’s unclear who placed the 911 call and how many people were in the apartment with Veal. Lindley said “several” other people who were at the apartment the night Veal died were questioned.
According to information gathered by the Northwest Indiana Times, Veal was an honors student and took advanced-placement classes as an upperclassman at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill. Veal graduated from Marian in 2009.
“I remember Tess as being one of those students that always smiled a lot, was outgoing and positive all the time,” said Scott Bodnar, Veal’s AP Psychology teacher at Marian. “She was a great student to have in the classroom.”
Veal was a senior at MSU and a member of Pi Beta Phi’s Mississippi Gamma Chapter.
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