(L.A.) Issac Balderas, 25, Died From Drug Use

Case Number: 2024-10382

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 25-year-old Latino male.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Issac Balderas.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Complications of Right-Arm Cellulitis

Other Significant Condition: Methamphetamine Effects

RIP ISSAC BALDERAS (April 8, 1999 – June 29, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 6:08 a.m.

The government investigator had initially given the decedent’s name as Isaac Morales.

Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was disclosed on July 14. This is considered an accidental drug overdose.

Methamphetamine use is associated with a higher risk of developing cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. This is because meth causes formication, a sensation of something crawling on the skin, leading to skin-picking behavior. This can cause skin breakdown, creating portals of infection and increasing the risk of cellulitis.

Cellulitis affects the deeper layers of skin, including the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Left untreated, it can spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream, leading to life-threatening complications such as sepsis, gangrenous cellulitis, or necrotizing fasciitis. These complications can cause severe symptoms including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and even death.