Autopsy Report Confirms Ketamine in System of Milania Giudice’s Late Friend Victoria Zardoya

Key points

• Victoria Zardoya, 20, died on July 27, 2026, three days after falling down a multi-level flight of stairs at the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key, Florida, on July 24.
• A medical examiner’s report obtained by TMZ confirms Zardoya’s blood tested positive for ketamine, norketamine (a metabolite of ketamine), alcohol, and etomidate (a medication used for general anesthesia).
• The cause of death was officially ruled as accidental craniocerebral trauma, resulting from skull fractures and bleeding around the brain due to the fall.
• The toxicology report does not specify when or why the substances were administered, nor does it determine if they played a role in the fall.
• Milania Giudice, Zardoya’s close friend and neighbor, has been grappling with grief and disclosed diagnoses for bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD in October 2026.
• Joe Giudice, Milania’s father, stated that Zardoya’s death affected his daughter 'tremendously' and that she is processing the loss while dealing with public scrutiny.

Background

This development follows Milania Giudice’s public disclosure in October 2026 of multiple mental health diagnoses and her admission to being in a treatment center. Giudice had previously faced a domestic violence arrest in May 2026 and a heated confrontation with her mother, Teresa Giudice, and sister, Gia Giudice, at Tampa International Airport in September 2026. Teresa Giudice had cited grief over the deaths of two friends as a cause for Milania’s distress. The current autopsy findings provide new details regarding the circumstances of Zardoya’s death, which Milania described as a pivotal loss during her 'worst' summer.

How outlets are covering it

Page Six and Just Jared both report the toxicology findings, citing TMZ as the source of the medical examiner’s report. Both outlets emphasize the presence of ketamine, norketamine, alcohol, and etomidate in Zardoya’s system. However, Just Jared explicitly notes that the report does not establish when or why the drugs were administered or if they played a role in the fall, a nuance also implied by Page Six but not explicitly stated. TMZ’s original article was inaccessible due to a 403 error, but its reporting is referenced by both Page Six and Just Jared. All sources agree on the cause of death being accidental craniocerebral trauma and the location of the fall as the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key. No conflicting perspectives were found among the accessible sources.

Why it matters

The release of the autopsy report provides critical details about the circumstances surrounding Victoria Zardoya’s death, a loss that has significantly impacted Milania Giudice’s mental health and public narrative. The presence of multiple substances, including ketamine and etomidate, raises questions about the context of Zardoya’s final hours, though the report does not link them to the fall. This information is relevant to understanding the ongoing struggles of Milania Giudice, who has publicly disclosed multiple mental health diagnoses and faced legal and family conflicts in the wake of Zardoya’s death. The findings may also inform discussions about the use of dissociative anesthetics and their potential risks in non-medical settings.

What to watch

There is no indication of further legal proceedings or investigations related to Victoria Zardoya’s death, as it was ruled accidental. Milania Giudice is expected to continue her treatment and legal proceedings, including a December 1 court hearing for a simple assault charge from May 2026. The Giudice family has requested privacy, and no further public statements are anticipated regarding the toxicology findings. Monitoring for any updates on Milania Giudice’s mental health status or legal outcomes will be necessary.