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Mother seeks answers after finding daughter dead on Sayonara Drive

A memorial on Sayonara Drive in honor of Summer Williamson-DeMascio. // Image provided by family

Story updated Oct. 10, 12:51 p.m.–
By Mike Hazlip— A woman is left searching for answers after finding her 26-year-old daughter dead in a vehicle on Sayonara Drive last month.

Misty DeMascio of Sacramento says she found her daughter, Summer Williamson-DeMascio, on the morning of Sept. 10, 2022, and called 911 after seeing her daughter was unresponsive.

Citrus Heights Police Master Sgt. Eric Dias told The Sentinel in an email Wednesday that responding officers arrived in the 7800 block of Sayonara Drive and found Williamson-DeMascio on the ground with other individuals performing CPR. The death is currently under active investigation, but authorities do not suspect foul play, he said.

DeMascio claims the death was drug-related and believes another man who met her daughter on Sept. 9 provided fentanyl to her.

Sergeant Dias confirmed that concerns have been voiced regarding Summer’s death and said detectives were assigned to look into the claims. However, he said “To date, there are no suspects or persons of interest in this investigation and it is being investigated as a death investigation, not a homicide.”

The coroner’s office website currently lists the initial classification of her death as “undetermined,” with no other details included.

A candlelight vigil was held at the scene on Sept. 30, and a GoFundMe account was set up by a family friend to pay for burial expenses, with more than $20,000 raised. DeMascio says a second GoFundMe is currently active with a $3,000 goal to cover additional expenses related to a headstone for Williamson-DeMascio.

Williamson-DeMascio leaves behind two daughters, ages four and six.

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