July 25, 2025 • 10 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: When 23-year-old Lauren Smith-Fields met a man from Bumble, it was supposed to be a simple night in. By morning, she was dead—and the man who last saw her alive walked away without ever being treated as a suspect. Four years later, her family is still demanding answers. What really happened that night in Bridgeport, Connecticut?
This is the story of Lauren Smith-Fields.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of The Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
discussing a case out of Bridgeport, Connecticut that happened in
December twenty twenty one. This case gained national media attention. However,
(00:25):
four years later, no one has been held accountable for
this young woman's death. It all began when a twenty
three year old woman had arranged to meet a date
from Bumble at her apartment. She was excited about her future,
a college student studying physical therapy, a TikTok influencer, and
(00:48):
a model with dreams of helping others.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But by the next morning, she would be dead.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
What happened that night would spark national outrage and expose
serious flaws in how police investigate the deaths of young
black women. This is the story of Lauren smith Fields.
Lauren smith Fields was born on January twenty third, nineteen
(01:18):
ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
She had a bright future ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
At twenty three years old, she was a college student
at Norwalk Community College studying physical therapy. She had a
passion for helping others and dreamed of making a difference
in people's lives. But Lauren wasn't just focused on her studies.
She was also a TikTok influencer and model, building a
(01:42):
following and sharing her life with the world. Those who
knew her described her as vibrant, ambitious, and full of life.
But on December twelfth, twenty twenty one, Lauren's promising future
would be cut short. It was a Sunday night in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
(02:03):
Lauren had arranged to meet a man named Matthew la Fountain,
a thirty seven year old white man she'd connected with
on the dating app Bumble. The two had been messaging
and decided to meet at Lauren's apartment. La Fountain was
significantly older than Lauren, but the meetup seemed innocent enough,
(02:25):
you know, just another first date arranged through a dating app.
What happened the next morning, though, would become the center
of a very controversial investigation. The next morning, around six
am on December thirteenth, Matthew la Fountain made a frantic
call to nine one one. He told the operator that
(02:48):
Lauren was unresponsive in the bed. Following instructions from the dispatchers,
he began performing chess compressions. When first responders arrived at
the scene, they found the fountain visibly shaken and in
a state of shock, and despite the efforts of the medics,
(03:10):
Lawrence Smithfields was pronounced dead at the scene. But what
happened next would outrage her family and spark a national
conversation around police bias. When Lauren's family had learned of
her death, they expected a thorough investigation, after all, a
(03:31):
young woman had died unexpectedly after a date with a stranger,
but instead they were met with what they described as
indifference and incompetence. According to Lauren's family, the Bridgeport Police
Department never properly investigated her death. They claim investigators didn't
(03:53):
collect evidence from the scene and failed to take the
case seriously. Even more troubling, Lauren's brother alleged that authorities
referred to the fountain as quote a nice guy in
their initial reporting. Authorities never treated him like a suspect
or even a person of interest given the mysterious circumstances.
(04:18):
The family's frustration grew when they learned that the police
hadn't even notified them of Lauren's death. They had found
out through other means adding insult to injury.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For weeks, the family demanded answers.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
They wanted to note what happened to Lauren and why
the investigation seemed so inadequate. After a while, their complaints
weren't going unnoticed. The case began to attract media attention,
and soon the story of Laurence Smithfield's would become a
national headline. In January twenty twenty two, the State Medical
(05:00):
Examiner's Office released their findings. They ruled Lauren's death an
accidental overdose of fentanyl, other prescription medication, and alcohol. But
Lauren's family wasn't satisfied with this explanation. They questioned how
she could have accidentally overdosed and demanded more investigation into
(05:24):
the circumstances. The family believed there was more to the
story than just an accidental overdose. They wanted to know
where the drugs came from and what really happened that night.
As public pressure mounted, the Bridgeport Police Department was forced
(05:46):
to take action. In January twenty twenty two, they announced
that Lauren's death would be investigated.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
As a crime.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
The department's Narcotics and Vice Division opened an investigation, assisted
by the US Drug Enforcement agency.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This was a significant development.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
What had initially been treated as a routine death was
now finally being investigated as potentially criminal, but the damage
to the department's reputation and to the case had already
been done. As the investigation continued, more problems with the
(06:31):
original police response began to come to light. Two detectives
who had initially handled the case were suspended amid the investigation.
This had raised serious questions about how the case had
been handled from the beginning. However, one of the suspected
detectives was quietly returned to duty in late May twenty
(06:54):
twenty two, sparking further controversy. The family and community activists
questioned whether the police department was truly committed to justice
or simply trying to weather the storm of negative publicity.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Lauren's case really.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Became a symbol of a larger problem, an epidemic.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Really.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It highlighted how the deaths of young black women are
often not taken seriously by law enforcement, and just how
drastically it impacts the families. The case drew comparisons to
other high profile cases where families felt their loved ones
deaths weren't properly investigated. Activists and community leaders used Lauren's
(07:45):
story to demand better training for police officers and reforms
in how suspicious debts are investigated. Three years later, many
questions about Lauren's death remain an answered. While the medical
examiner ruled her death in accidental overdose, her family continues
(08:07):
to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding that night. The
criminal investigation that was opened in January twenty twenty two
appears to have stalled, with no arrests or charges filed.
Matthew Lafountain, the man who was the last person to
see Lauren alive, has not been charged with any crime
(08:31):
related to her death. This case raises important questions about
dating app safety. Over three hundred and fifty million people
currently use dating apps. Lauren's case prompted discussions about the
risk of meeting strangers online and the need for better
safety measures on dating platforms. Bumble have released a statement
(08:55):
expressing their condolences to Lauren's family and expressing their commitment
to us her safety. But for Lauren's family, these statements
offered little comfort. The impact of Lauren's case extends far
beyond her immediate family. It has highlighted the need for
(09:15):
police departments to take all deaths seriously, regardless of the
victim's race or background, and it has shown the power
of families and communities to demand accountability from law enforcement. Today,
Lauren Smithfields would be twenty six years old. She might
have graduated from college and begun her career in physical therapy.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
By now.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
She might have been continuing her flourishing influencer journey, but
instead her life was cut short and her family continues
to fight for answers. My thoughts in prayers are with
her loved ones, and anyone with information about her death
should contact.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
The Bridgeport Police Department.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
You can find their information in the description box below.
As we close out this episode, don't forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Lauren's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
for more true crime updates. And if you are watching
(10:23):
us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case down in the comments. Thank you so much for
joining us on another episode Until next time. Hunting for
Answers is a production of The Black Effect podcast network.
(10:46):
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of The Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
discussing a case out of Bridgeport, Connecticut that happened in
December twenty twenty one. This case gained national media attention. However,
(00:25):
four years later, no one has been held accountable for
this young woman's death. It all began when a twenty
three year old woman had arranged to meet a date
from Bumble at her apartment. She was excited about her future,
a college student studying physical therapy, a TikTok influencer, and
(00:48):
a model with dreams of helping others.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But by the next morning, she would be dead.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
What happened that night would spark national outrage and expose
serious flaws in how police investigate the deaths of young
black women. This is the story of Lauren smith Fields.
Lauren smith Fields was born on January twenty third, nineteen
(01:18):
ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
She had a bright future ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
At twenty three years old, she was a college student
at Norwalk Community College studying physical therapy. She had a
passion for helping others and dreamed of making a difference
in people's lives. But Lauren wasn't just focused on her studies.
She was also a TikTok influencer and model, building a
(01:42):
following and sharing her life with the world. Those who
knew her described her as vibrant, ambitious, and full of life.
But on December twelfth, twenty twenty one, Lauren's promising future
would be cut short. It was a Sunday night in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
(02:03):
Lauren had arranged to meet a man named Matthew la Fountain,
a thirty seven year old white man she'd connected with
on the dating app Bumble. The two had been messaging
and decided to meet at Lauren's apartment. La Fountain was
significantly older than Lauren, but the meetup seemed innocent enough,
(02:25):
you know, just another first date arranged through a dating app.
What happened the next morning, though, would become the center
of a very controversial investigation. The next morning, around six
am on December thirteenth, Matthew la Fountain made a frantic
call to nine one one. He told the operator that
(02:48):
Lauren was unresponsive in the bed. Following instructions from the dispatchers,
he began performing chess compressions. When first responders arrived at
the scene, they found the fountain visibly shaken and in
a state of shock, and despite the efforts of the medics,
(03:10):
Lawrence Smithfields was pronounced dead at the scene. But what
happened next would outrage her family and spark a national
conversation around police bias. When Lauren's family had learned of
her death, they expected a thorough investigation, after all, a
(03:31):
young woman had died unexpectedly after a date with a stranger,
but instead they were met with what they described as
indifference and incompetence. According to Lauren's family, the Bridgeport Police
Department never properly investigated her death. They claim investigators didn't
(03:53):
collect evidence from the scene and failed to take the
case seriously. Even more troubling, Lauren's brother alleged that authorities
referred to the fountain as quote a nice guy in
their initial reporting. Authorities never treated him like a suspect
or even a person of interest given the mysterious circumstances.
(04:18):
The family's frustration grew when they learned that the police
hadn't even notified them of Lauren's death. They had found
out through other means adding insult to injury.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For weeks, the family demanded answers.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
They wanted to note what happened to Lauren and why
the investigation seemed so inadequate. After a while, their complaints
weren't going unnoticed. The case began to attract media attention,
and soon the story of Laurence Smithfield's would become a
national headline. In January twenty twenty two, the State Medical
(05:00):
Examiner's Office released their findings. They ruled Lauren's death an
accidental overdose of fentanyl, other prescription medication, and alcohol. But
Lauren's family wasn't satisfied with this explanation. They questioned how
she could have accidentally overdosed and demanded more investigation into
(05:24):
the circumstances. The family believed there was more to the
story than just an accidental overdose. They wanted to know
where the drugs came from and what really happened that night.
As public pressure mounted, the Bridgeport Police Department was forced
(05:46):
to take action. In January twenty twenty two, they announced
that Lauren's death would be investigated.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
As a crime.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
The department's Narcotics and Vice Division opened an investigation, assisted
by the US Drug Enforcement agency.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This was a significant development.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
What had initially been treated as a routine death was
now finally being investigated as potentially criminal, but the damage
to the department's reputation and to the case had already
been done. As the investigation continued, more problems with the
(06:31):
original police response began to come to light. Two detectives
who had initially handled the case were suspended amid the investigation.
This had raised serious questions about how the case had
been handled from the beginning. However, one of the suspected
detectives was quietly returned to duty in late May twenty
(06:54):
twenty two, sparking further controversy. The family and community activists
questioned whether the police department was truly committed to justice
or simply trying to weather the storm of negative publicity.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Lauren's case really.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Became a symbol of a larger problem, an epidemic.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Really.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It highlighted how the deaths of young black women are
often not taken seriously by law enforcement, and just how
drastically it impacts the families. The case drew comparisons to
other high profile cases where families felt their loved ones
deaths weren't properly investigated. Activists and community leaders used Lauren's
(07:45):
story to demand better training for police officers and reforms
in how suspicious debts are investigated. Three years later, many
questions about Lauren's death remain an answered. While the medical
examiner ruled her death in accidental overdose, her family continues
(08:07):
to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding that night. The
criminal investigation that was opened in January twenty twenty two
appears to have stalled, with no arrests or charges filed.
Matthew Lafountain, the man who was the last person to
see Lauren alive, has not been charged with any crime
(08:31):
related to her death. This case raises important questions about
dating app safety. Over three hundred and fifty million people
currently use dating apps. Lauren's case prompted discussions about the
risk of meeting strangers online and the need for better
safety measures on dating platforms. Bumble have released a statement
(08:55):
expressing their condolences to Lauren's family and expressing their commitment
to us her safety. But for Lauren's family, these statements
offered little comfort. The impact of Lauren's case extends far
beyond her immediate family. It has highlighted the need for
(09:15):
police departments to take all deaths seriously, regardless of the
victim's race or background, and it has shown the power
of families and communities to demand accountability from law enforcement. Today,
Lauren Smithfields would be twenty six years old. She might
have graduated from college and begun her career in physical therapy.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
By now.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
She might have been continuing her flourishing influencer journey, but
instead her life was cut short and her family continues
to fight for answers. My thoughts in prayers are with
her loved ones, and anyone with information about her death
should contact.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
The Bridgeport Police Department.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
You can find their information in the description box below.
As we close out this episode, don't forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Lauren's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
for more true crime updates. And if you are watching
(10:23):
us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case down in the comments. Thank you so much for
joining us on another episode Until next time. Hunting for
Answers is a production of The Black Effect podcast network.
(10:46):
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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