A 31-year-old man who died in downtown Los Angeles after severely injuring himself with a pocketknife had a potentially fatal level of methamphetamine in his system, according to a newly released medical examiner’s report.
The report provides new details about the death of Ryan Dexter Sutherland, whose fatal self-inflicted injuries occurred in the early morning hours of March 7.
Investigators found that Sutherland sustained more than 20 stab and cutting wounds, including injuries to his neck, upper abdomen, wrists and forearms.
Toxicology results showed high levels of methamphetamine in his system, along with the presence of MDMA.
His blood concentrations were recorded at 1.9 ug/mL for methamphetamine and .24 ug/mL for amphetamines, levels described as potentially deadly, though the drugs were not listed as the official cause of death.
Sutherland’s death was ruled a suicide caused by multiple “sharp force injuries” to his neck, right forearm and wrist, chest and genitalia. The report said he used a non-serrated pocketknife measuring about two inches long and three-quarters of an inch wide.
The medical examiner described a severe genital injury measuring nearly a foot in circumference, including extensive trauma to the penis and exposure of the testes.
According to the report, the fatal injuries were believed to include damage to an artery and vein in his right arm, as well as neck wounds that injured his jugular vein and trachea.
A security guard at a 7/11 across the road from the LA Convention Center witnessed Sutherland’s bloody collapse and called the police.
Officials arrived on scene near the intersection of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard to find his blood-soaked clothing scattered across the sidewalk.
Police identified Sutherland by his fingerprints.
The report described the troubled Sutherland as black man standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 264 pounds, with a clean-shaven scalp. He had brown eyes, a mustache and goatee.
His aunt told police he’d never previously threatened or attempted suicide, but did have a history of illicit drug use and had previously been to rehab, the report noted. His parents were notified of his death.
Little else was is revealed about Sutherland’s background, other than he suffered from ADHD.
Meth users are known to have a significantly higher risk for suicide than the general population, studies show.
