(L.A.) Matthew Drake, 39, Died From a Non-Drug Cause
Case Number: 2025-06623
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 39-year-old White/Caucasian male that occurred at his residence.
The coroner’s office identified the man as Matthew Drake.
Born in Alameda County. Mother’s maiden name is Lovera.
Manner of Death: Natural
Cause of Death: Acute Bronchopneumonia in the Setting of Chronic Asthmatic Bronchial Disease
RIP MATTHEW ANDREW DRAKE (September 20, 1985 – April 18, 2025)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 8:45 p.m.
Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was published on July 15, presumably after the results of tox screening had come back negative for substances.
February 2021: Soft White Underbelly interview and portrait of Matthew, a functional heroin addict from San Francisco
August 2021: Soft White Underbelly update interview and portrait of Matthew, a recovering “functional” heroin addict originally from San Francisco now in a rehab in Orange County, California
Chronic heroin use, particularly via smoking or injection, is associated with persistent and sometimes permanent respiratory problems. These include reduced lung function, increased severity of dyspnea (breathlessness), and a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often at a younger age compared to tobacco smokers.