Tests show pregnant Ohioan in car died from heroin use

DELAWARE, Ohio (AP) — A coroner says a pregnant woman found dead in her car in central Ohio apparently died of acute heroin intoxication.

Delaware County’s coroner released the toxicology test result today. Dr. Mark Hickman says the manner of death for 23-year-old Deanna Ballman has not been determined pending further investigation.

An autopsy had found no signs of trauma and confirmed that Ballman’s unborn child also died.

Ballman lived in Pataskala and had been reported missing the day before her body was found Aug. 1 northeast of Columbus.

Relatives said Ballman had gone to do a house-cleaning job in New Albany that she found through an online classified ad. Her mother said Ballman called saying she wasn’t feeling well, and then the call was dropped.