The story of the sudden demise of in style ABC information producer Dax Tejera, whereas eating out together with his spouse in New York City, earlier than Christmas, has grown ever extra disturbing with experiences Wednesday that he choked to demise at dinner because of “acute alcohol intoxication.”
This information from New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner implies that 37-year-old Tejera, govt producer of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” might have been nicely on his technique to a excessive degree of intoxication when he and his spouse, Washington Post producer Veronica Tereja, made the astonishing resolution to go away their daughters, 2 years and 5 months, alone of their room on the unique Yale Club on the evening of Dec. 23.
After the high-flying media couple tucked their daughters into mattress, they left two cameras on to observe them whereas they slept, Veronica Tejera mentioned, after her arrest on little one abandonment prices, The Daily Mail reported. The Tejeras reportedly then met associates for what was described as a leisurely dinner at upscale Bobby Van’s steakhouse on Park Avenue, a couple of block away, experiences say.
ABC producer Dax Tejera choked to demise whereas drunk as he and spouse left youngsters alone in NYC resort room https://t.co/5N35NeWKdQ pic.twitter.com/m2P0xmGHng
— New York Post (@nypost) February 8, 2023
But the couple’s evening out to have fun the vacations took a tragic flip when Tejera “seemed unwell shortly into the meal,” a server at Bobby Van’s advised The New York Post.
“So, before anyone ate, just after the server brought the orders, he asked, ‘Are you OK, sir?” a restaurant worker advised The Post.
The reportedly inebriated producer then “got up and started walking like he was going to the men’s room but he made a right instead and went out the front door and the server followed him outside,” the worker advised The Post.
“The server said that he collapsed in the corner, right here outside the restaurant,” the worker mentioned. “It was terrible and a terrible shame they left little, little children alone like that.”
The Medical Examiner’s Office mentioned the official reason for demise was “Asphyxia due to obstruction of airway by food bolus complicating acute alcohol intoxication,” the Post and Daily Mail reported. Consuming excessive ranges of alcohol is thought to hinder indicators within the mind that management the gag reflex, rising the danger of choking on meals whereas consuming.
New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner advised me Dax Tejera’s demise was an “accident.” https://t.co/PgFQ4dgcHg through @thedailybeast
— Matt Young (@MattYoung) February 9, 2023
Tejera was rushed to Bellevue Hospital after collapsing however pronounced useless on arrival, the Daily Mail mentioned. His spouse accompanied him within the ambulance, whereas she mentioned her mother and father and a buddy have been requested to gather the youngsters on the Yale Club.
But Yale Club workers referred to as police at round 11 p.m., after they found the youngsters had been left unattended for no less than two hours, the Daily Mail mentioned. The youngsters have been unhurt.
Veronica Tejera was arrested by the NYPD at round 12:20 a.m and charged with two counts of “acting in a manner injurious to a child,” the Daily Mail mentioned.
“Tragic accidental death aside — as a mother I could never, in a million years, leave my small child alone in a hotel (awake or asleep) … this is …… unimaginable,” Canadian broadcaster Jody Vance tweeted, expressing the views of many mother and father concerning the Tejeras’ resolution.
Tragic unintended demise apart — as a mom I might by no means, in 1,000,000 years, go away my small little one alone in a resort (awake or asleep) … that is …… unimaginable https://t.co/N3p8XOLwUS
— Jody Vance (@jodyvance) February 9, 2023
Veronica Tejera was launched from custody shortly after 4 a.m. She issued a press release, admitting it was a “poor decision” to go away their daughters on their very own. The former CNN producer insisted she “monitored them closely in the time I was away from them.” In her assertion, she additionally appeared to lash out on the Yale Club for calling police, saying she had referred to as her mother and father and a detailed buddy to gather her daughters whereas she went to the hospital. “The hotel would not allow my friend in and instead called the NYPD,” Veronica Tejera mentioned.
To no matter extent Veronica Tejera tried to fault the Yale Club, police mentioned the youngsters have been “left alone inside of a hotel room for an extended period of time,” the Daily Mail reported.
After ABC News President Kim Goodwin initially reported that Tejera died of a coronary heart assault, Veronica Tejera launched a fundraiser for her youngsters’s 529 school account, the Daily Mail mentioned. The web page mentioned, “Dax Tejera handed away instantly, leaving 2-year-old Sofia and 6-month outdated Ella with out their father. Please assist the women’ training.
Tributes additionally poured in from colleagues at ABC News and throughout media for Tejera and his spouse, who stuffed their social media feeds with comfortable household photographs and pictures of them on trip in worldwide locations akin to Bali, Venice, Bermuda and St. Barts. In an obituary, ABC News remembered Tejera as a “champion of journalism and people.”
“Dax’s energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News and you, shined every Sunday morning. That same love was extended to his precious girls,” Godwin mentioned in a be aware to workers. The day Tejera died, he posted a photograph of himself and Veronica on the White House with Joe and Jill Biden, a photograph of their daughters in what seems like a resort room overlooking the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and a household picture of the 4 in entrance of one other Christmas tree.
Good Morning America correspondent Gio Benitez mentioned on Instagram: “’As you celebrate Christmas Eve with your families, please hold Dax Tejera’s family in your thoughts and prayers. He was the Executive Producer of This Week ABC, a friend to all of us, and — most importantly — a loving husband to Veronica and devoted father to two beautiful little girls, Sofia and Ella.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”