Newlywed's death ruled accidental

Published: Wednesday, April 4 2007 12:06 a.m. MDT

A Utah woman who died just hours after getting married in December accidentally overdosed on methadone, according to the State Medical Examiner's Office.

Jennifer Goodall, 25, died on her wedding night, Dec. 23, 2006. Goodall overcame her own meth addiction to become a frequent speaker at schools telling students the dangers of drug addiction.

Goodall became friends with Utah's first family and spoke on behalf of Mary Kaye Huntsman's Power in You program.

According to an autopsy report, Goodall died from acute methadone toxicity, said Salt Lake City police detective Robin Snyder. The death was ruled an accident by the medical examiner due to prescription medication abuse, she said.

The death appears to be an accident and the case is considered closed, said Salt Lake City police detective Jeff Bedard. Although the autopsy report stated "prescription medication abuse," Bedard said that does not mean Goodall was purposely or intentionally abusing prescription medication.

Methadone is an opiate commonly used to treat people recovering from drug addiction.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has made the meth problem a high priority of his administration. He formed the Utah JointMethamphetamine Task Force assigned to find ways of attacking the problem from all angles.


E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

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