Official cause of Alexis Lancaster’s death still 6-7 weeks away
By J.J. Smith. The official cause of death of 19-year-old, former Rockwall High School cheerleader Alexis Lancaster will not be available for release for another six to seven more weeks.
According to the Dallas Coroner’s Office, the standard length of time it takes to conduct toxicology tests and report their findings is eight weeks.
The popular 2008 RHS graduate was found dead in her Dallas apartment Saturday morning, Oct. 24.
She is survived by her mother, Leah Pearl Gentzler, and husband, Stan, of Rockwall, who own Gentzler Electrical Services in Dallas; and her father, Stephen Scott Lancaster, and wife Kristi, of Caddo Mills.
According to several sources who asked that their names not be used, she had been on a date Oct. 23 with a young man named Ben.
The sources said she took a recreational drug that night known as “bars,” which is a slang term for alprazolam – a fast-acting sedative which helps users to relax.
According to the website Drugs.com, a well-known brand name for alprazolam is Xanax, which is generally prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. When mixed with alcohol, it can increase the effects of alcohol and can be deadly.
From the website:
“Quad bars are a common slang for Xanax 2mg tablets, which are bar shaped and can be broken into 4 .5mg doses. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazapines, which also include Valium (diazapam), Lithobid (lithium) and Ativan (lorazopam). All benzodiazapines are CNS sedatives, meaning they act directly on the brain to relax muscles, respiration rate, heart rate and provide an overall feeling of relaxation.”
“Benzodiazapines are prescribed to combat anxiety, insomnia, muscle tension, and involuntary movements like jaw clenching and shaking-leg syndrome. Benzodiazapines are also known to cause antegrade amnesia (short-term memory loss) at moderate to high doses. For this reason they are often used as an adjunct to pre-surgery anesthesia to avoid remembering the procedure.”
“Benzodiazapines are popular among some recreational drug users who find the sedating and relaxing effects enjoyable, and often mix them with other CNS depressants like alcohol. Xanax is considered to be one of the most desireable benzos for recreational use because of it’s fast onset and shorter period of action than other benzos.”
“Xanax, like all benzos, is a schedule IV controlled substance in the US, making possession without a prescription illegal, and transfer or sale illegal without a license.”
Our sources said that a 911 call was placed by someone, which will become available from Dallas police soon due to the open records law.
They added that her death was openly discussed during Drug Awareness Week last week at Rockwall High school between many students and teachers.
No other information has been confirmed at this point.
We did place a call to step-father Stan Gentzler at his office today but have not yet received a reply.
wow my cousin alexis compos has so much in common with alexis lancaster, rip alexis L and alexis C. but my cousin was killed in germany september2009, she was also 19. looked like alexis L , exept facial structure. …. im deeply saddened by what happened to alexis L and alexis C. its terrible but it happens. alexis lancasters family is in my prayers . Rip <3
probably because the truth is no one business but alexis’s family.
SO set the record straight, friend of the family. If you say nothing then all we have to believe is whatyou say is “rumor” . That’s what is funny about this while thing, everybody that claims to know the truth won’t say what the truth is.
Unfortunately, what they have heard is the truth. Just ask “the other person”……….
Of course ONLY rockwall would have some kind of article like this posted on the internet for the whole world to see. This town is filled with so much gossip and lies, its unbelievable. As a good friend of alexis, i know she hated drama and rumors about anyone. Please have some respect for her and her family and stop. If she saw this, it would break her heart and she would be mortified. Alexis passed away- no matter what the cause of death was, everyone wants to remember her as the funny and beautiful girl she was. NO ONE knows what happened that night besides Alexis and the one other person she was with. So STOP, I know her family and friends do not appreciate this article. “The “authorities” aren’t saying anything yet, but young people and adults all across Rockwall are. …” Exactly, the young people and adults across Rockwall are just saying what they HEARD, which is not what they know.
The step-dad and Leah were getting divorced, maybe he doesn’t work there anymore. She is listed as the President and majority owner. And before anybody disagrees see the link below:
http://65.70.178.219/judicialsearch/Scripts/UVlink.isa/rockwall/WEBSERV/CivilSearch?action%253Dview%26track%253D47758
“We even called her step-father for the facts, but no reply. If we’re wrong, then by all means please tell us the real story. We just want to print the truth.”
So no immediate family member has disclosed facts involving her death, nor have the police? Were any of your sources witnesses?
well said “friend” and rip alexis. nerby we don’t have our heads in the sand. the same thing could have happened to me at that age. this was a tragedy, and i just have never seem a small home town paper trying to profit from going tabloid on a such a tragic incident. it is direspectfult to her family. its a shame that you reader hits are so slow, and this is probably your biggest story probably ever. with respect for the family and community a simple announcement, link to her service and a note of condolence would have been quite enough. with all due respect the rockwall news is not cnn. apparently you are a national enquirer wanna be.
Thank you all for your comments. To “Friend,” if you would be willing to provide us with facts which contradict what we’ve reported, then we would be happy to print them. What we’ve printed so far is based on info from several sources who did know her. None of the people who have complained about our stories have yet provided contradictory info. They just complain and call us disrespectful. We even called her step-father for the facts, but no reply. If we’re wrong, then by all means please tell us the real story. We just want to print the truth.
there is no need to argue on this story of alexis, she was a beautiful young lady and i believe she shall rest in peace among us in the clouds that shine as bright as her personality.
her family should not have to see comments such as these, its their daughter, they dont need to see her as a “user” or a girl who messed up.. just as a gift to god whom was taken to soon.
<3 r.i.p alexis
I read the story prior to this one on the girl who died, as well as all of the comments. It sounds to me like a lot of you have your head in the sand and just think, “this kind of stuff doesn’t happen here” or “a girl like this could have never been involved with drugs.” Wake up, people! I can and it does. Alexis looks like she was a beautiful and well-liked girl who had many friends who love and care about her and are shocked and saddened by her untimely death. I get that, but it is more likely than not that the “sources” the paper is referring to ARE providing accurate information. It is a sad situation either way, but don’t bash the paper for doing their job.
Alexis deserves alot more than to have a story like this wrote about her. get your story straight please. Alexis was never dating Ben and even though she was hanging out with him she was not on a date with him. It is a slap in the face to Alexis mainly that you would even write that. Instead of getting your information from these “unidentified sources” who probably hardly even knew her why dont you try talking to people who really knew alexis and not people who are seeking attention and passing on disrespectful rumors that have no truth behind them. It is disrespectful to the family and for anyone who cared for Alexis and is still grieving. Dont write anything about her at all if all you have is rumors and lies to base your story on.
The “authorities” aren’t saying anything yet, but young people and adults all across Rockwall are. Many people know what happened, but prefer we not use their names for various reasons. My sources are not just “rumors from high school kids.” We’d be very irresponsible to simply print rumors, and few people would read our news if it wasn’t based on fact. While we mean no disrespect to Alexis’ family and friends, there is an important story here that needs to be told. Parents, teens and leaders across the community are deeply concerned about increasing drug problems which are affecting many Rockwall Co. families. People want to know and deserve to know what is happening around them. People rely on CNN and the Dallas Morning News to uncover what authorities don’t always tell. We see that as our job locally, as well. Respectfully, TheRockwallNews.com
You guys keep reporting on rumors from high school kids. What are the authorites saying? I am not a reporter but, I dont think you are doing a service to anyone here. You may have allot of faith in the unnamed source. The two words I have heard that I believe came from the authorities that would seem to sonewhat contradict your sources assertion that “she took a drug” are “suspicious circumstances”. Why not let the authorites determine what happend here before you keep posting gossip? You say it was openly discussed at the high school? What was discussed? And in what context?
I didn’t see any hostile remarks, just saying how it was.
I am a friend of Stephanie Nero and she shared this story with me, i am very sorry for your loss.
I will keep your family in my prayers. Jen Cagle
Becky
I don’t believe this is the time for you to make hostile remarks over a former employer. He is dealing with the loss of his daughter!!!! You obviously don’t care about this family or their emotions. I think everyone would appreciate it if you didn’t make any comments on this site due to your lack of concern.
also good luck reaching Stan, he rarely works at the office. When I worked for him he showed up on paycheck day and that was about it.
thank you for the update. How very sad!