Authorities have released the name of the woman who was found dead in a vehicle on the Mesa in Santa Barbara earlier this month after apparently taking her own life.
The deceased was Mary Madison Randolph, 20, of Santa Barbara, according to Raquel Zick, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau.
Randolph, who was known as Mei Mei by friends and family, was found dead in a vehicle parked on Santa Cruz Boulevard shortly after 7 a.m. on Dec. 12.
Santa Barbara police and firefighters responded to the scene, and hazmat crews were brought in because Randolph used a “chemical concoction” — reportedly hydrogen sulfide — in committing suicide.
There reportedly was a note on the window of the vehicle warning about the presence of a dangerous gas, but police have not confirmed that.
The Coroner’s Bureau is investigating Randolph’s death, Zick said Monday, adding that toxicology tests were still pending.
According to her obituary, Randolph was born in Virginia and moved to Macon, Georgia, after completing second grade. She came to Santa Barbara in 2019 to attend college.
She was described in her obituary as someone who “loved fiercely and brought joy to the lives of everyone around her.”
A private memorial service for Randolph was held Dec. 21 at Memorial Garden of Christ Church in Macon.
Randolph’s family asked that memorial donations be sent to Good Heart Recovery, 205 W. Mission St., Santa Barbara, California, 93101.
Click here for suicide prevention information and resources that are available 24/7.
The National Suicide Prevention Line is available 24/7 at 800.273.8255, and the Santa Barbara County 24-hour, toll-free hotline is 800.400.1572.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.