(L.A.) Melissa Jontow, 48, Died From Meth

Case Number: 2024-03782

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 48-year-old White/Caucasian female that occurred at her residence.

The coroner’s office identified the woman as Melissa Jontow.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Effects of Methamphetamine

Other Significant Conditions: Covid‐19 Complicated by Parainfluenza Virus 4 Co‐Infection

RIP MELISSA JONTOW (March 12, 1975 – March 2, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 6:50 p.m.

Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was published on June 20, presumably after the results of tox screening had come back positive for the meth.

This is classified as an accidental, i.e., unintentional, drug overdose.

Human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV-4) is one of the four known serotypes of human parainfluenza viruses.

HPIVs can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Common conditions include croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and upper respiratory infections like the common cold.

HPIVs are highly contagious and spread through close contact with infected individuals, particularly via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. They can remain infectious in airborne particles for over an hour and on surfaces for several hours.

There are four main types of HPIVs: HPIV-1, HPIV-2, HPIV-3, and HPIV-4.