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Autopsy shows New Mexico sheriff died from effects of fentanyl and alcohol

An autopsy revealed that Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and alcohol after being found in his patrol vehicle following a crash. The death, ruled accidental, highlights the ongoing opioid crisis in the Espanola Valley, where fentanyl is increasingly prevalent. His death adds to New Mexico's high rate of opioid-related fatalities.