Schoeneweis’ wife died from overdose
December 1, 2009
PHOENIX (AP)—Former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Scott Schoeneweis’(notes) wife diedfrom an overdose of cocaine and an anesthetic, lidocaine, an appellate courtdisclosed in a ruling released Tuesday.
The ruling also said an investigation revealed evidence that GabrielleSchoeneweis’ cocaine use “may have caused harm to another person.” That personwas not identified.
Gabrielle Schoeneweis was found dead on May 20 in the master bedroom of thecouple’s home in Fountain Hills, a Phoenix suburb.
A three-judge Court of Appeals panel disclosed the cause of death in aruling on whether an autopsy report and other records on Gabrielle Schoeneweis’death must be disclosed under Arizona’s public records law.
The Court of Appeals panel said further proceedings are needed to determinethat based on public interest in any investigation into criminal conduct.
But the panel said its ruling disclosed the cause of death to provideguidance “in this and other cases” and because cause of death is a centralfact not subject to consideration of whether privacy rights outweigh publicinterest for disclosure of public records.
An attorney for Schoeneweis argued in a lawsuit filed against state andMaricopa County officials that release of information on the cause of deathwould cause emotional suffering for the family.
The Court of Appeals panel’s ruling came on Schoeneweis’ appeal of a July 9ruling in which a trial judge denied Schoeneweis’ request to seal the deathcertificate and any other documents concerning the cause of death.
The Court of Appeals temporarily barred release of the documents while itconsidered Schoeneweis’ appeal.
Mark Dangerfield, the attorney representing Schoeneweis in the appeal,declined immediate comment Tuesday, saying he needed to first read the rulingand contact Schoeneweis.
Authorities said Gabrielle Schoeneweis’ 14-year-old daughter called thesheriff’s office to report that she had found her mother lying on the floor andunresponsive.
Schoeneweis and his wife celebrated their 10th anniversary in January. Theyhad three children together, and she already had a daughter when they weremarried.
Schoeneweis, a left-handed relief pitcher, spent three weeks on thebereavement list after his wife’s death before returning to play on June 9. Hegave up 15 earned runs in nine innings when he came back and was placed on thedisabled list Aug. 11 because of depression. He returned to the team on Sept. 7.
He had signed a one-year contract with Arizona for 2009 and is now a freeagent.
