New South Wales Police have formally charged a 52-year-old man with manslaughter in connection with the 2021 death of Jarrad Antonovich during a spiritual retreat. The charges come after an extensive investigation and a recent coronial inquest into the tragic incident that occurred in the Northern Rivers region.
According to police statements, emergency services were summoned to a Collins Creek property in the early hours of October 17, 2021, following reports of a participant’s collapse. Despite paramedic intervention, the 47-year-old Mr. Antonovich could not be revived at the scene.
The coronial inquest held in May 2024 revealed disturbing details about the circumstances preceding the death. Testimony indicated that Mr. Antonovich had allegedly been administered kambo frog poison earlier that day, after which he reported experiencing “intense pain.” Witnesses further testified that he was subsequently given ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogenic brew traditionally used by Indigenous Amazonian cultures for spiritual purposes.
Police allege that the retreat host, now charged, not only supplied the hallucinogenic substance but critically delayed seeking medical assistance as Mr. Antonovich’s condition deteriorated. The accused was apprehended in Coorabell within the Byron Shire region and has been processed at Byron Bay Police Station.
The case highlights growing concerns about the safety protocols and regulatory oversight of alternative spiritual practices involving psychoactive substances. The charged individual is scheduled to appear before Lismore Local Court on March 30 to face the manslaughter allegations, marking a significant development in a case that has spanned nearly five years of investigation.