Brother of Indiana mom who died on flight from Dominican Republic reveals cause of death: report

Autopsy results have reportedly been released for an Indiana mother of two who died on a plane returning from a vacation in the Dominican Republic in February.

A forensic pathologist told Stephanie Smith’s family that the 41-year-old woman died of natural causes. She specifically had a carotid artery dissection in her neck, her brother Chris Volz said in an interview with ABC News.

“What happened was a truly tragic medical event,” he told the outlet, adding that autopsy results did not suggest foul play.

Smith was on American Airlines. Flights from Punta Cana A friend, Maria Yannotti, previously told Fox News Digital that the plane was headed for a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina, when it suddenly started convulsing shortly after takeoff, forcing the plane to divert to the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is said that

American email friend shortly before dies on flight from Dominican Republic after resort vacation

“Her boyfriend said he was preparing to gain altitude or that he wouldn’t be in the air very long. But when he looked at her, he saw her head tilted back against the seat. Her eyes were rolling in the back of her head, and he thought she was just teasing them. They joke all the time. ..like that,” said Yannotti, who was traveling to Punta Cana with her fiance, Smith and Smith’s boyfriend.

“And he said, ‘The next thing I knew, she was convulsing,'” Yannotti added.

Family of Indiana mother killed in AA plane still has unanswered questions

Stephanie Smith died suddenly on a plane returning from a week-long vacation in Punta Cana. (Maria Yannotti/Christina Perez/VWPics/Universal Images Group)

Smith’s boyfriend called a flight attendant for help and began CPR, but to no avail.

Turks and Caicos Island Police Department At 6:12 p.m. that day, the air traffic control tower said it received a call requesting medical assistance for a 41-year-old woman who was being treated at the time. [CPR]Authorities sent a medical team and police to the scene and took Smith to Cheshire Hall Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Indiana mother appeared fit and healthy before dying suddenly on board AA flight, family and friends say

Stephanie Smith started having seizures on the flight home from Punta Cana. (Facebook)

Just before the plane took off, Smith texted Yannotti at 4:55 p.m. and asked Yannotti to remind him to call her when she had a connection in Charlotte because she had an “interesting story.”

Yannotti said Smith and her boyfriend traveled together to celebrate Yannotti’s fiance’s birthday.

Maria Yannotti said she has known Stephanie Smith’s partner for nearly two years as they are friends, and described her friend as “a bundle of energy” and “the life of the party.” (Maria Yannotti)

“Everything she had, I had,” Yannotti said. “We ate almost the same meals and drank almost the same drinks. [any]His body was belligerent. [W]We just had some delicious drinks poolside and beachside. So most of the time we were watching them open bottles right in front of us. We had a great time. We played beach volleyball. we swam. ”

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Mr Yannotti said he had known Mr Smith for nearly two years as his partner was a friend, and described Mr Smith as “a bundle of energy” and “the life of the party”.

“She was definitely a one-of-a-kind woman. She was a bundle of energy. She was always willing to help someone, excited and always smiling. When I met her… I knew we would hit it off because she just had the same personality as me. She was “just so full of life. I mean, she would give anyone her shirt off. “Sometimes she put people before herself. She loved having a good time. She loved to laugh… She loved to sing karaoke. She was the life of the party.” ”

Smith leaves behind an 18-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter. ABC reports that her body is scheduled to be flown back to the United States next week.