Kingfield resident found floating in pool ruled to have died of an overdose

The Aug. 9 edition of the Westmore New reported that an unidentified male was found floating face down in the community swimming pool at Rye Brook’s Kingfield housing complex on Monday, June 26, at 5:35 a.m.

“According to Rye Brook Police Lt. J. Arnold, the cause of death is unknown and is still under investigation,” stated the Aug. 9 report.

On Monday, Aug. 21, further inquiries to Rye Brook Police Chief Gregory Austin elicited the following:

The victim was identified as John B. McQuiston, 52, a white male and Kingfield homeowner from 18 Lavendar Ln.

According to the County Medical Examiner’s report, which the Rye Brook Police Department received Aug. 10, McQuiston died from “an acute mixed drug intoxication (fentanyl, MDMA, methamphetamine). Contributing factors included McQuiston was suffering from “coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.” 

His death was ruled “a drug overdose and not a drowning.”

McQuiston, who lived alone, had a dog which, according to the police report, was turned over to his friend, Victor H. Arriaga-Espinoza, another resident of the complex. Arriaga-Espinoza told the Westmore News the dog’s name was Edwina, a small and “very sweet” mutt whom he would now be responsible for full-time.

The report states McQuiston’s sister, Sarah H. McPhee of Pleasantville, was contacted promptly by the RBPD and told that the County Medical Examiner would take custody of her brother’s body and they would be contacting her. In turn, the report says that McPhee “would be contacting her mother and other members of the family.”