Gloria Ramirez, known as the "Toxic Woman," died under mysterious circumstances that inspired TV shows like "The X-Files." During her ER visit at Riverside General Hospital, strange symptoms afflicted the medical staff, including fainting and breathing issues, after they noticed an oily sheen on her body and a fruity, garlicky smell. The incident affected 23 staff members, with some hospitalized. Despite investigations, the cause of these symptoms remains unsolved, with theories ranging from mass hysteria to chemical reactions. Ramirez's family suspects a cover-up related to hazardous hospital conditions. The case is officially closed but remains a topic of speculation and mystery.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Gloria Ramirez, a 31-year-old woman, died under mysterious circumstances at Riverside General Hospital in 1994.
2. Ramirez was diagnosed with cervical cancer on February 19, 1994.
3. She arrived at the hospital's emergency room around 8:15 p.m. with a racing heart.
4. Medical staff attempted to defibrillate her, but noticed an oily sheen on her body and a strange, fruity-garlicky smell.
5. Several staff members, including nurses and a medical resident, reported feeling sick, fainting, or experiencing other symptoms after being near Ramirez's body.
6. The hospital declared an internal emergency and evacuated all other patients to the parking lot.
7. A hazardous materials team arrived two hours after the incident and searched for toxic chemicals, but found none.
8. An autopsy was performed on Ramirez six days later, but no conclusive cause of death was determined.
9. The California Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case and concluded that the staff's symptoms were likely caused by mass hysteria.
10. The Livermore Laboratory found high levels of dimethyl sulfone in Ramirez's autopsy samples, which could have broken down to form a toxic compound.
11. The Ramirez family believes that the hospital's hazardous conditions, including a history of poisonous gas leaks, may have contributed to Gloria's death.
12. Three strange occurrences have been reported, including a deputy coroner changing his story about the cause of death, an investigator committing suicide, and a syringe used to take Ramirez's blood being "accidentally" thrown away.
13. The case remains unsolved, with no definitive explanation for the strange occurrences and symptoms reported by the hospital staff.