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US writer Paul Auster
Photo: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP
Daniel Auster, son of the famous American author Paul Auster, is dead. He apparently died of a drug overdose, as reported by several US media, including the New York Times.
The 44-year-old was found unconscious in a New York subway station on April 20 and died in a hospital on Tuesday.
Daniel Auster's ten-month-old daughter Ruby died in November.
According to media reports, Auster said at the time that he had injected himself with heroin and then fell asleep next to his daughter.
When he woke up, the baby was unconscious.
According to the police, it died shortly afterwards as a result of “acute poisoning” with the anesthetics fentanyl and heroin.
Daniel Auster was charged with manslaughter but was released on bail.
Daniel Auster has had problems with the judiciary in the past.
After the 1996 murder of suspected drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez, Auster admitted to having $3,000 in possession that was stolen from Melendez.
Auster was given a suspended sentence at the time.
His roommate at the time and another suspect confessed to killing Melendez.
His father is one of the most successful writers in the USA.
Paul Auster achieved international fame with his »New York Trilogy« and the novel »Leviathan«.
In his 2003 book Night of the Oracle, the narrator is a writer whose son is a drug addict.
Daniel Auster was the son of Paul Auster and his first wife Lydia Davis.
kha/AFP