Milania Giudice’s best friend had ketamine in her system when she died: autopsy

Milania Giudice’s best friend, Victoria Zardoya, had ketamine in her system at the time of her fatal fall in July.

The 20-year-old’s blood tested positive for ketamine — a dissociative anesthetic that has hallucinogenic effects, according to DEA.gov — and norketamine — a metabolite produced when the body breaks down ketamine, according to a medical examiner’s report obtained by TMZ.

Zardoya’s toxicology results also showed alcohol and etomidate, a drug used for general anesthesia.

Milania Giudice’s best friend, Victoria Zardoya, had ketamine in her system at the time of her fatal fall. (Pictured left to right: Zardoya and Giudice posing together in 2023.) Instagram/@_victoriazardoya
TMZ reported that the 20-year-old (seen posing in a brown dress in June) also had alcohol and etomidate in her system. _victoriazardoya/Instagram

The young woman’s death was ruled accidental and the cause was recorded as traumatic brain injury, as she suffered skull fractures and bleeding around the brain following the tragic fall.

On July 24, Zardoya fell down a multi-level staircase while exploring the ruins of Fort Dade on Egmont Key, near Tampa Bay, Florida.

She was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but sadly died three days later from her injuries.

On July 24, Zardoya (seen above in an orange outfit in June) fell down the stairs while exploring the ruins of Fort Dade on Egmont Key, near Tampa Bay, Florida. Instagram/@_victoriazardoya
The cause of his death was traumatic brain injury. (Pictured left to right: Zardoya and Giudice posing together in costumes in 2025.) Instagram/@_victoriazardoya

Zardoya grew up as a neighbor and close friend of Giudice, also 20, and her famous family.

The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star had to deal with the death of her best friend — she even made headlines in September for having a heated exchange with her mother, Teresa Giudice, and older sister, Gia Giudice, while they were surrounded by cops at Tampa International Airport.

Milania’s father, Joe Giudice, told Page Six in an exclusive interview that Zardoya’s death “affected a lot” his daughter.

Zardoya grew up as a neighbor and close friend of Giudice and her famous family. (Pictured: Teresa Giudice, her daughters and Zardoya at a carnival.) Teresagiudice/Instagram
Milania (seen above in a green dress) recently got into an altercation with her mother, Teresa Giudice, and older sister, Gia Giudice. milania.ggiudice/Instagram
Last month, Milania (seen above in a video) revealed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. milania.ggiudice/instagram

“Losing someone you love is incredibly painful, and grief has no end date,” the convicted felon, 54, told us.

“She tried to deal with this loss while dealing with the pressures that come with growing up in the public eye,” he added.

Last month, Milania revealed that she had been diagnosed with several mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and ADHD, and had checked herself into a rehabilitation center.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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