Those who were close to Saoirse Kennedy Hill appear to be shocked by reports that she died of a suspected overdose, because she apparently did not have a reputation for drinking or doing drugs.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Hill, 22, was found unresponsive at her family’s Cape Cod compound, the home of her grandmother Ethel Kennedy, on Thursday afternoon. She was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Multiple news outlets have reported that authorities are investigating a possible overdose as a cause of death. But a source close to the family told the New York Post that there had not been much partying or drinking at the Hyannis estate this summer.
Further, “there’s never been any sign to the family that Saoirse was drinking or taking drugs,” the source reportedly said. “She wasn’t a partier or anything.”
Hill had been open about her struggles with depression and a traumatic sexual assault in her past. She spoke of her mental heath in a candid op-ed for her high school alma mater Deerfeld Academy’s student newspaper, but mentioned nothing about substance abuse.
Hill was one of Robert F. Kennedy’s 35 grandchildren, the daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill and Paul Hill, who divorced in 2006. The source said her early childhood years spent in Ireland were unstable.
“Basically, Saoirse had a very troubled, unstable childhood and life until the time that Courtney and Paul separated, and then Courtney and Saoirse moved back to the Cape, where they’ve been living full-time for about the past 10 years,” the source told the New York Post.
“This girl is very sweet and a very shy girl who has struggled a lot with depression since her early teens.”
According to ABC News, Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe released a statement Friday saying that Hill’s autopsy did not show any signs of trauma that could not be attributed to lifesaving measures performed on the young woman, who was reportedly in cardiac arrest when first responders found her. The toxicology report, which is expected to help determine the cause of death, is still pending.
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[Feature image: Instagram]
