A Mineral Wells, Texas woman who took methamphetamines and other drugs crept into her garage chest freezer and died there.
38-year-old Shannon Herrin Huddleston reportedly put on her coat before she climbed into the freezer during the early morning of Aug. 8. Her 19-year-old son Jordan Glover found her body hours later when he went to go get some food, according to a search warrant affidavit acquired by the Star-Telegram. Jordan told the news outlet that he found his mother face up.
According to the Dallas County medical examiner's office, Herrin's cause of death was from "toxic effects of methamphetamine," along with hypothermia. Following an autopsy, officials found new puncture sites on her body from drug use, in addition to marijuana, hydrocodone and anti-anxiety medication in her system. The office has deemed her death an accident.
"We are mindful of Shannon's family and their grief from such a tragic loss," police Chief Dean Sullivan told the Star-Telegram. "These toxicology results are another example of the terrible effects and harm that methamphetamine can bring to people, their family and a community."
The affidavit detailed the night of Aug. 7, when Herrin was at home with her husband Cecil Huddleston, along with a family friend and her son. Jordan told police that he left the house at around 1:30 a.m., while Cecil reported he left at 6 a.m. for work. Herrin was alive at the time, and the friend was asleep on the couch. Jordan stated that he went home just after 6:30 p.m. to grab some food. He called the police shortly after 6:30 p.m.
"My mother's dead," Jordan told the operator on the line. "I opened up the freezer and she's in there."
He added that there was debris strewn around the garage, which was strange because Cecil usually kept the area orderly.
Herrin reportedly sent a text message to her supervisor on the morning of Aug. 8, saying that she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it to work. The affidavit reported that she did not often send text messages.
Police took some items from the house, including the freezer, a bottle of water, Herrin's cell phone, two laptops, a zipper case carrying drug paraphernalia, a diary, prescription medicine bottles, a swab with possible blood from a bedroom door, and a folding pocketknife, the Star-Telegram reported.
Sullivan said that he wished the Huddleston family would be able to find "some closure" after this horrific event.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family, especially her son," Sullivan told the Star-Telegram on Thursday. "It's terrible for someone to die in such a manner."
