The passing of Emily Beutner, daughter of former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Austin Beutner, has been classified as a suicide resulting from a combination of prescribed medications and the controversial supplement kratom.
Emily, aged 22, passed away on January 6 in Los Angeles after being discovered alone by the roadside and subsequently taken to a hospital.
On Friday, the LA County Medical Examiner revealed that her death was due to a mix of anti-depressant and antipsychotic drugs, along with substances found in kratom, a legal herbal supplement.
This opioid-like supplement, readily available at gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops, is increasingly scrutinized for its potent effects and significant potential for misuse.
Kratom is derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna tree, native to Southeast Asia. It is commonly consumed by chewing the leaves, making tea, or taking it in powder, capsule, or extract form.
Following Emily’s tragic death, Austin Beutner, who served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2018 to 2021, withdrew from the mayoral race about a month later.
“My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter Emily,” he wrote wrote in a statement posted on X. “She was a magical person, the light of our lives. We are still in mourning.”
Emily was found alone on the side of the road near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Technology Drive in Palmdale around 12:10 a.m. on Jan. 6, The Post exclusively reported.
Firefighters said she was struggling to breathe when she was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
In deciding to end his mayoral bid, Austin Beutner said his campaign — and the job of mayor — “requires someone who is committed 24/7 to the job.”
“Family has always come first for me,” he said. “That is where I need to be at this time.”
