Paul Auster’s Son Daniel Dies From Overdose After Posting Bail In Daughter’s Death

Daniel Auster, the son of author Paul Auster, died from what the New York City Police Department suspects was an accidental overdose.

Daniel Auster, 44, died on Tuesday after being taken off life support following a drug overdose. Auster’s death comes almost two weeks after he was arrested for the death of his 10-month-old daughter Ruby, who died from heroin and fentanyl exposure last year.

Auster, who faced charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminally negligent homicide, was later released after he posted bail.

Three days after his release, Auster was discovered unconscious at the Clinton Hill subway station and transported to Brooklyn Hospital Center.

Police received the call about Auster’s daughter on Nov. 1, 2021, and arrived at his Park Slope apartment where they found Ruby unresponsive and unconscious.

In a deposition, Auster claimed he injected himself with heroin and laid down with Ruby for a nap. He told police that when he awoke, his daughter was “blue, lifeless, and unresponsive.”

He claimed he tried to save her by administering Narcan, a drug used to treat opioid overdoses, and then called 911.

The medical examiner later determined Ruby died from acute intoxication caused by fentanyl and heroin. The Kings County District Attorney’s Office decided to treat the death as a homicide.

Auster previously found himself in legal trouble during the late 1990s when he was linked to a murder case.

At the time, nightclub promoter Michael Alig was believed to have worked with an accomplice to kill and dismember a drug dealer, Andre Melendez.

While Auster did not face charges for the murder, he later pleaded guilty to possessing $3,000 that was stolen from Melendez.