Teenage Girl Found Dead in Vienna in August: Death Ruled 'Accidental'

By Jason Spencer

The state medical examiner's office has ruled the death of 16-year-old Emylee Lonczak of McLean was an "accident" caused by her body's reaction to illegal drugs and an over-the-counter antihistamine.

Lonczak was found dead Aug. 23 behind some bushes in an affluent Vienna neighborhood. It was less than two weeks before what would have been the start of her junior year at McLean High School.

Lonczak's manner of death was ruled an "accident," according to the state medical examiner's office in Manassas. The office determined the cause to be due to the "adverse effects of heroin and diphenhydramine."

Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in antihistamines like Benadryl. It's also found in some sleep aids, like Tylenol PM.

A Fairfax County police spokesman could not immediately say Wednesday whether anyone has been charged in Lonczak's death.

On Aug. 21, Lonczak went out with two adult men, and the group traveled out-of-state to buy drugs from a third man, according to past reports. All three used the drugs, and the group noticed she needed medical attention the next morning as they were returning home, but did nothing about it, according to a Washington Post report at the time.

In September, Fairfax County police began searching Facebook accounts, looking for photos or written clues as to what happened the night of Lonczak's death, NBC4 reported at the time.

Investigators initially said Lonczak had been reported as a runaway, but later said that she was last seen in the company of known individuals.