Olympic athlete Jarred Rome died from fentanyl overdose, Snohomish Co. Medical Examiner rules

TULALIP, Wash. -- The fentanyl crisis is hitting home once again, as a local Olympian's death is connected to the deadly drug.

According to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office, Marysville native Jarred Rome passed away from acute fentanyl intoxication.

According to the Medical Examiner, Rome was found dead in his hotel room off Quil Ceda Boulevard in Tulalip on September 21. The circumstances that led up to his death remain unclear. It's also unclear how Fentanyl got into Rome's system.  The medical examiner, however, said it appears to be accidental.

The Everett Herald reports that Rome was in town in late September for his induction into the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame. He went out with friends near the Tulalip Resort and Casino, but started not feeling well and went back to his room. When friends checked up on him, they found him unresponsive.

Rome is a graduate of Marysville-Pilchuk High School. According to the website TeamUSA.org, Rome was a six-time NCAA Division I All-American at Boise State. He was also a two-time national champion, representing the U.S. Olympic Team in 2004 and 2012.

Rome was 42 years old.

Rome's mother Jane Blackwell told The Herald that she does not think that he intentionally took the drug and that she believes someone gave him something to treat arm pain.

Fentanyl a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.