Officials have released the cause of death for actor Jesse Jane, who passed away earlier this year at age 43. Jane, an adult film star also known for her roles in “Starsky & Hutch” (2004) and “Entourage” (2005), was found dead on January 24 alongside her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, at his home in Moore, Oklahoma.
A partial autopsy report released Sunday confirms the initial suspicions. The native Texan died from an accidental drug overdose of cocaine and fentanyl, according to the limited one-page document from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. The full autopsy report is scheduled for release on July 17.
Lt. Francisco Franco of the Moore Police Department had previously informed The New York Times that officers discovered the couple deceased during a welfare check.
Jane, born Cynthia Ann Howell, graduated with honors from Moore High School in 1998. She modeled for local retailers before making her acting debut in 2003’s “Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.” That same year, she began her prolific career in adult films, eventually leading the big-budget porn franchise “Pirates.”
In a 2009 interview with CNBC, Jane described performing as “a job” that enabled her to buy a home and provide for her son, whom she shared with her ex-husband Rich Taylor.
Fentanyl, a synthetic painkiller, is 50 times stronger than heroin and is frequently used as a cutting agent for cocaine. The drug has been a significant contributor to the opioid crisis, which has claimed the lives of many Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths involving fentanyl rose from more than 57,000 in 2020 to over 71,000 in 2021.
Jane’s untimely death adds to the alarming statistics of opioid-related fatalities, highlighting the ongoing battle against this deadly crisis. Her career, marked by significant accomplishments in both mainstream and adult entertainment, was tragically cut short by the scourge of drug addiction.
The full autopsy report, to be made public on July 17, is expected to provide further details about the circumstances surrounding her death. In the meantime, her passing serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by potent drugs like fentanyl, which continue to devastate lives across the country.