A prominent California couple known for their coffee business refused medical attention when the husband suffered a ‘bad trip’ from psychedelic mushrooms just hours before they were found dead.
John ‘Jay’ Ruskey, 53, and Kristen Ruskey, 49, owners of the Good Land Organics and Frinj Coffee, were pronounced dead at a Cambria residence on February 8, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Authorities have said their deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
But a coroner’s report obtained by the Santa Barbara Independent provides disturbing new details about the couple’s final hours.
It said the Ruskeys had been attending a birthday party in Cambria on February 7 with more than 50 other people, and retired to their room at around 2.30am on February 8.
Just about two hours later, Kristen called 911, reporting that she thought her husband was suffering from some kind of seizure.
Yet when first responders then arrived at the scene, Kristen told the authorities Jay was just ‘having a bad trip’ after he had eaten some chocolate laced with psychedelic mushrooms.
Those who attended the party also said they heard Jay throwing up and screaming.
People suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning may also experience loss of muscle control, confusion and nausea or vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic.
John and Kristen Ruskey, owners of the Good Land Organics and Frinj Coffee, died at a Cambria residence on February 8
John, who often went by Jay, founded his exotic fruit company, Good Land Organics, in 1992, Frinj Coffee was founded in 2018 and was the first Californian coffee grower to compete in the Dubai Coffee Auction
‘Carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous for people who are asleep or have used illicit drugs, alcohol or medicines that make them very sleepy,’ it notes.
‘Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage or death before anyone realizes there’s a problem.’
Due to ‘the totality of the circumstances and the decedent’s observed behavior,’ first responders advised Jay to go to a local hospital for a ‘higher level of care,’ the coroner’s report said.
But Jay refused to seek any medical treatment.
Hours later, at 9.30am, the couple’s friends found Kristen unresponsive on the laundry room floor, which was adjacent to the bedroom where they were staying. They then found Jay in the bedroom also ‘unresponsive, pulseless and not breathing.’
The friends performed CPR on the couple until emergency personnel arrived, at which point the Ruskeys were declared dead at the scene, the San Francisco Gate reports.
Authorities did not find any drugs in Ruskey’s room or vehicle, and nobody at the party said they saw Jay take illicit drugs, according to the coroner’s report.
However, a gold piece of foil was found in the room, which detectives believe contained the mushroom-laced chocolate.
A disturbing coroner’s report details how Kristen called 911 worried that her husband was having a seizure earlier in the morning
Days later, the owner of the Cambria home called police worried about its level of carbon monoxide.
When authorities then arrived at the scene, they found a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke alarm in the room where the couple had stayed – but the wires had been disconnected.
A toxicology report later also found that both Jay and Kristen had dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in their systems.
Additionally, Kristen had a blood alcohol content of 0.04, and her death was determined to be caused by both carbon monoxide and ethanol.
Their deaths were then ruled accidental, even though the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office opted not to investigate the source of the carbon monoxide.
‘We did not conduct an investigation into the carbon monoxide leak as there were no indications of foul play or anything criminal in nature,’ spokesman Tony Cipolla told the San Francisco Gate.
He added that the sheriff’s office does not believe the alleged drug use contributed to their deaths.
The Ruskeys leave behind their three children, Kasurina, 19, and 16-year-olds Sean and Aiden
In a statement following the release of the coroner’s report, the family said while it ‘brings a somber clarity, we choose to focus on the incredible light they brought to the world.
‘Their legacy lives on through the trees they planted, the farmers they mentored and the children who carry their spirit forward.’
The family also noted that ‘smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives.
‘For the sake of your loved ones, please have detectors installed in your home and check them regularly. They save lives,’ the family said.
John and Kristen were described as generous members of our community, eager to support schools, causes, and friends, and as fiercely engaged parents.
John, who often went by Jay, founded his exotic fruit company, Good Land Organics, in 1992.
The company’s website calls itself a pioneer grower of rare fruits in California and a leader in the evolution of California as a coffee-growing region.
What was once just a branch of Good Land Organics became Frinj Coffee in 2018.
‘The name is a nod to our ability to grow coffee on the fringe of traditional producing regions.’
According to the Independent, the coffee company had to file for bankruptcy in January of 2024 before bouncing back in 2026 by being the first Californian coffee grower to compete in the Dubai Coffee Auction.
‘We got California coffee showcased as a world-class coffee with the best coffees in the world,’ John told the outlet in January.
‘Our washed Geisha stood out for flavor and cleanliness in the cup, and may have called it the best in the expo. We acquired some new interested buyers from other parts of the world who appreciate the coffee craftsmanship that we do at Frinj.’
The Ruskeys leave behind three children, Kasurina, 19, and 16-year-olds Sean and Aiden, for whom community members have started an online fundraiser.
‘We are all at a loss to navigate this unimaginable tragedy,’ they said. ‘But we are reaching out for support to help the Ruskey family with funeral costs, memorial arrangements, and to alleviate immediate financial pressure.’
The fundraiser has raised over $192,000 as of April 20.
