Details have emerged about a California couple who died unexpectedly. John Ruskey and his wife, Kristen, owned a farm and coffee company based in Goleta. The couple was attending a birthday party for friends at a home that wasn’t theirs on the night of February 7, 2026. After heading to a bedroom for the night, things took a turn from celebratory to tragic. In the middle of the night, John suddenly fell ill.
His wife immediately called for help, telling paramedics that she believed he may have ingested hallucinogenic drugs. After he refused treatment, the couple was found dead hours later.
The official cause of death was released about a month later.
On March 12, 2026, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office shared a news release giving an update on the Ruskeys’ deaths.
“The Coroner has determined John Ruskey died of toxic effects of carbon monoxide and Kristen Ruskey died of toxic effects of carbon monoxide and ethanol. Their deaths are ruled as accidental,” the release states. “A combination carbon monoxide/smoke detector was found in their room, but it was found to be disconnected.”
SFGATE obtained the coroner’s report, which offered more details about the night the couple died and the circumstances that led to their deaths.
The couple was attending a birthday party at a home in Cambria, California, that included 50 to 60 guests. They were last seen around 2 a.m. February 8, according to guests who spoke with investigators.
That’s when things started to go wrong.
Kristen Ruskey called 911 around 4:30 a.m., telling dispatchers that she believed her husband was having a seizure, per SFGATE. But when first responders arrived, she told them John was having a “bad trip” after eating a chocolate bar with “shrooms” in it.
“Based on the totality of the circumstances and the decedent’s observed behavior, medics advised the decedent to be transported to a hospital for further evaluation and a higher level of care,” John’s autopsy report stated, per the outlet.
Around 9:30 a.m., friends found Kristen unresponsive on the laundry room floor, the Santa Barbara Independent reported, citing the same coroner’s report. The laundry room was next to the room the couple was staying in.
John was found in the bedroom “unresponsive, pulseless, and not breathing.” The coroner did not find any signs of trauma or injury, and no drugs were found in the bedroom or in their car.
No one saw John take any drugs.
Five days later, the owner of the home called authorities, concerned about carbon monoxide levels in the residence.
“While this news brings a somber clarity, we choose to focus on the incredible light they brought to the world,” the family shared in a statement, per the Independent. “Their legacy lives on through the trees they planted, the farmers they mentored, and the children who carry their spirit forward.
“Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives,” the statement continued. “For the sake of your loved ones, please have detectors installed in your home and check them regularly. They save lives.”
Their children are now left orphaned.
A GoFundMe account was set up by those close to the couple to help financially support the couple’s teenage children, 19 and 16 years old. Their oldest child is an adult. It’s raised nearly $200,000.
“The Ruskeys were caring and generous members of our community, always eager to support schools, causes, and friends; and they were also loving and fiercely engaged parents to their cherished children,” the fundraiser states.
“We are all at a loss to navigate this unimaginable tragedy, but we are reaching out for support to help the Ruskey family with funeral costs, memorial arrangements, and to alleviate immediate financial pressure,” the page continued. “Any donation, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated as we honor Jay and Kristen’s memory by supporting their children.”
