Son of Author Paul Auster Dies of Drug Overdose Days After Being Charged in His Baby's Death

Daniel Auster drug overdose Paul Auster Ruby Auster

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Apr 29, 05:56 am

Photo: (Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The son of famed author Paul Auster has died just 11 days after being charged with his infant daughter's overdose death, officials announced. New York City police said that Daniel Auster died on Tuesday, April 26, at the age of 44. Officials did not disclose the cause of Auster's death.

According to police officers, they found Auster unconscious on the subway platform of the northbound G train at the Washington Avenue/Clinton Street stop in New York City on April 20, just hours after he got bailed out of Rikers.

The New York Post reported that Auster was discovered surrounded by drug paraphernalia, and the dosage was similar to what he usually took, suggesting his death was accidental. Auster had been arrested on Easter Sunday for the November 1 death of his daughter, Ruby Auster.

Daniel Auster charged with manslaughter

Police said officers administered CPR on Auster, who was transported to Brooklyn Hospital in "stable condition." However, authorities said Auster was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The chief medical examiner's office said that the cause and manner of Auster's death are still pending.

NBC News reported that police arrested auster on April 15. It is not clear when he was released from jail. The 44-year-old was charged with manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminally negligent homicide relating to the death of his 10-month-old child.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the Kings County District Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, young Ruby died of acute intoxication from fentanyl and heroin back in November while she was in the sole care of her father.

Auster told authorities that he had injected himself with heroin after his wife left for work when his daughter died. According to the complaint, Auster then took a nap alongside Ruby, and when he woke up, he saw his daughter was "blue, lifeless, and unresponsive."

Ruby Auster died of acute intoxication from fentanyl and heroin

Auster administered Narcan, an opioid antagonist used to reverse overdose effects, before calling the police. Auster's daughter was then taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A toxicology report in the young child's autopsy found the presence of heroin and fentanyl.

A district attorney's office spokesperson said that Auster's criminal case would be abated by death at a future date. According to the New York Times, Auster's father, Paul, is best known for such works as "The Brooklyn Follies" and "City of Glass."

His father has won numerous international awards for his books, which include titles such as "The Book of Illusions," "Moon Palace," and "The New York Trilogy." He was nominated for the Booker Prize back in 2017 for his novel "4, 3, 2, 1" and his work has been translated into more than 40 languages.