After a thorough investigation, Shelby County officials have determined that the death of local teacher Kristen Fundo, 35, was accidental and not caused by criminal activity. She died from acute ethanol intoxication, possibly combined with drowning. Initially, there were concerns she had been drugged, but her blood alcohol level was found to be 0.279, more than three times the legal limit in Tennessee. This highlights the dangers of excessive drinking, especially when driving, as reported by The Commercial Appeal.
The unfortunate series of events unfolded when Fundo, having spent time at Casa Mexicana, was involved in a hit-and-run accident and later drove into a pond, as per The Commercial Appeal. The narrative then took a twist with allegations of drink tampering at Casa Mexicana and two other local restaurants, Frida’s Mexican Restaurant and Nashoba, leading to extensive reviews of surveillance footage and interviews with employees. Despite receiving 11 complaints of potential drink tampering, law enforcement found no incriminating evidence against the establishments.
Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner conveyed the heartbreak of the situation, noting, "Children are without a mom. A husband is without a wife, and it’s due to alcohol intoxication," as mentioned in a statement obtained by The Commercial Appeal. It is a chilling account of just how swiftly joy can transmute into tragedy, leaving behind the wreckage of a family in its wake.
In a thorough clarification of the events leading to Fundo's accident, Buckner detailed her timeline, explaining that she had left the restaurant at 7:01 p.m. and got into the hit-and-run by 7:35 p.m. By 8:02 p.m., calls came in reporting tail lights in the pond, as detailed by WREG. No major drugs were detected in Fundo's system, discrediting the initial suspicion of her drinks being spiked. Driving while intoxicated, Chief Deputy Buckner emphasized the preventable nature of such accidents and the hazardous consequences of drinking and driving.
Casa Mexicana, along with the other implicated restaurants, have been exonerated from the allegations of serving tampered drinks. Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane confirmed, "So we feel very confident in the results of this investigation," acknowledging the full cooperation they received as relayed by Action News 5.
