The mysterious death of a New York fashion designer is considered a murder New York

The death of a rising New York fashion designer last year may be linked to “drug-assisted theft” crimes in the city, authorities have revealed.

The death of Catherine Marie Gallagher, 35, has been shrouded in mystery since she was found dead in her apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on July 24 of last year.

Gallagher, whose designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, actress Laverne Cox and New York City Ballet dancers, did not show any obvious signs of injury, police said.

But on Friday, the New York Police Department ruled Gallagher’s death a homicide after the city medical examiner concluded that he died of acute intoxication caused by a mixture of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl and ethanol. Investigators also determined the manner of her death as a “drug-assisted robbery,” suggesting someone may have drugged her to steal something.

NYPD investigators did not elaborate, but say they are looking into whether Gallagher was intentionally given a dangerous mixture of drugs by someone trying to rob him.

“No arrests have been made and the investigation continues,” said the police.

The family of the designer said a Statement to NBC News that the “homicide ruling shared today by the medical examiner confirms what we knew: Katie was the victim of a crime. Sharing these stories helps us set the record straight, demand accountability, and mourn more openly.”

Police sources told the publication that Gallagher’s death is similar to 26 other deaths in the city over the past year that they attributed to “drug-facilitated theft”, although there is no official indication that his case is connected to the others.

In December, police charged Kenwood Allen, 33, in the overdose deaths of two men who were killed after they were groped, tortured and robbed at nightclubs.

Prosecutors allege Allen was a member A violent Manhattan robbery gang which was aimed at night club guests.

“They target victims leaving bars, in some cases offering drugs, then using force or when the victim leaves, they take jewelry, money, high-end watches and phones from the victim,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Esseg. – he said at the press conference.

The spate of drug-assisted robbery deaths was initially linked to men who frequented gay nightclubs, but Essig said they “didn’t particularly think they were targeting gay members – it was purely based on monetary gain”.

According to an obituary published at Gallagher College websiteShe launched her own fashion line in 2010 and has showcased more than two dozen Katy Gallagher collections.

Her work, the obituary said, was published in Vogue, The Cut, Elle and Glamor magazines. “Like AA Milne’s Eeyore, he preferred dark days and cold rain. As a child, he was drawn to the forest, mixing potions and playing with his sisters. Animals were attracted to his gentle and calm demeanor,” it said.

The presence of fentanyl as a tool in Gallagher’s slaying is likely to heighten concerns already about the dangers of the synthetic drug, which was linked to two-thirds of the more than 100,000 fatal overdoses in the US last year.

About 60 bars, restaurants and galleries in the city now provide fentanyl test kits, This was reported by the New York Times last weekAs part of an effort to educate people about what drugs they may be taking.

But the “drug-assisted theft” deaths are another indication that the fentanyl crisis, which has prompted calls from lawmakers to designate Mexican drug cartels that trade in fentanyl as terrorist organizations, is fueling deadly crime.