Arrest Made In Connection With 2024 Overdose Death: Guilford Police

GUILFORD, CT — The Guilford Police Department on Tuesday announced an arrest in connection with an overdose death from May 2024.

Norma Ortiz, 45, was arrested by warrant and charged with illegal sale of narcotics and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said in a news release. Ortiz posted a court-set bond of $75,000 and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Jan. 2 at 9 a.m.

Patch has reached out to Guilford police for more information on Ortiz's place of residence.

On May 3, 2024, Guilford police responded to a home on Wauwinet Court on a report of an overdose that resulted in the death of a 54-year-old woman.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later confirmed that the woman's death was the result of "acute intoxication involving a fatal cocktail of drugs including Fentanyl and Xylazine," police said.

Items recovered from the scene were forensically analyzed by Guilford detectives and the Connecticut State Laboratory.

"This lengthy investigation led to the identification of the suspect who was determined to have been the provider of the illicit drugs that lead [sic] to this overdose death," police added. "This investigation involved a series of search warrants, interviews and DNA analysis, resulting in an active warrant for the suspect."

The GPD thanked its partners at the New Haven State's Attorney's Office, the CT State Laboratory and the New Haven offices of the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department for their assistance in the case.

"Drugs like Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine, and Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians, are an ongoing threat to our community and continue to take the lives of our community members," the GPD added.

"The Guilford Police Department will continue to build our efforts to educate those in our community about the dangers of drugs like Fentanyl and Xylazine and will actively pursue and investigate drug-related incidents We will hold those responsible who aid in providing dangerous drugs to members of our community to the fullest extent of the law."

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug dependency, reach out to Guilford Police Department Social worker Jordan Regan at 203-453-8061, call 211 or check available help and services in Connecticut.