Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Lethal drug cocktail blamed in death of former prosecutor

A lethal but accidental combination of prescription drugs is to blame for the death of a former prosecutor late last year, the Clark County Coroner’s Office has ruled.

Lisa Ann Willardson, 45, Henderson, was found dead Dec. 26, mere hours after a state judicial discipline commission ruled a judge she had been romantically involved with acted inappropriately by presiding over her cases during their relationship.

Willardson’s death was the result of a cocktail of prescription drugs, none of which were in doses that would have been fatal had they been taken individually, said Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy.

The drugs were diazepam, which is a short-term sedative, clonazepam, which is a long-acting anxiety medication, citalopram, an antidepressant, and zolpidem, which is a sleep aid.

Murphy said there was nothing to indicate the death was a suicide.

Clark County Family Court Judge Steven Jones, who had dated Willardson, found her body the day after Christmas in the bathroom of her Henderson home.

Earlier that day, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline ruled there was "clear and convincing evidence" to prove eight of 12 misconduct charges against Jones.

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