Student’s Death Is Tied to Overdose of Cocaine

A Compton honors student whose body was found inside a car trunk in San Diego may have died of a cocaine overdose, San Diego police said Saturday.

A Compton man arrested in connection with the death of Lina Aldridge, 19, told Compton police that Aldridge overdosed after the two bought cocaine in San Diego early Thursday, said Sgt. Ed Petrick of the San Diego Police Department, adding that police believe the man’s account.

Compton Police Lt. Al Smith said the man was released from custody Saturday and is no longer a suspect.

Police found Aldridge’s body Friday stuffed inside the trunk of her car, which had been illegally parked since Thursday on a busy downtown street. Police had initially called the death a homicide.

Before Aldridge left home Wednesday night, she told her family she would return in 10 minutes, relatives said.

Friends and family described Aldridge as a bright young woman who looked forward to becoming a teacher and attending law school. They said reports of a drug overdose do not fit with the Lina Aldridge they knew.

“All I know is that the girl was an ideal student, an ideal citizen,” Compton Mayor Walter Tucker said Saturday. “If she was involved with cocaine, it would be the most surprising thing. I just can’t believe that.” Tucker, who said he has know Aldridge for 16 years, employed Aldridge as a part-time receptionist in his dental office.

Aldridge’s companion--Roy Williams, who studied with her at Compton Community College--gave police a credible account of the San Diego trip, Petrick said.

Aldridge and Williams drove here late Wednesday night to buy cocaine, Petrick said. When Aldridge collapsed and died of an overdose at the home of the man who had sold her cocaine, the dealer put her body into the car trunk, Petrick said.

Petrick refused to name the cocaine dealer and said he will not be charged in the case.

“Unfortunately, this kind of thing is very common,” Petrick said. “All indications are that (Aldridge) did use cocaine.”

The San Diego County coroner’s office performed an autopsy Saturday. The cause of death will not be determined until the results of histology and toxicology tests become available in four weeks, said deputy coroner Charles Kelley.