Please let your opinion be known however you are comfortable that this community will not rest until the people who caused our son’s death are investigated FULLY and brought to justice.
Yes, my teenage son had a serious drug problem. He was involved in high-risk activities with clearly dangerous people. In no way do we minimize or make excuses for that fact. However, that didn’t give others the right to kill an 18 year old boy who was a much loved son and big brother to three younger siblings, who are devastated. Henry could have recovered from his addictions and gone on to lead a full life as a wonderful, contributing citizen. He was only eighteen years old. Now he will never have that chance.
Please make your voices heard. Leave your comments on the news stories covering Henry’s death. And we ask that you respectfully and politely express your concerns about the way this case is being handled to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and the Knox County District Attorney’s Office (Office of the District Attorney General at 865.215.4466)
We are grateful to all of the hard working law enforcement officers and prosecutors in our community. We know they have THE most difficult of difficult jobs. In no way do we want to malign the excellent reputation that these professionals have earned in Knox County. But our young son didn’t have to die. There needs to be a comprehensive, focused and skilled investigation into what is an admittedly complex series of events that led to Henry’s death.
Henry didn’t have to die. He didn’t want to die. And we are heartbroken and shattered.
Please help us speak for Henry.
Thank you-
Katie, Henry’s mama
Katie-
I only recently found your blog through motherlode. Your devastating loss has changed the way I will talk to my five children. The oldest will be 13 in November.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so,so sorry for you and your family.
A mom in WI.
I am so profoundly sorry for your loss. Henry was beautiful; his spirit just shines through in those photos you've posted. I will never forget his story. And I've written a note to the sheriff's office.
I am utterly in shock. As a mom with a daughter the same age as your son, I am speechless. I am soooo profoundly sad for the loss of your precious son. Praying that the people who hurt your son are brought to justice. Praying also for the peace of your family!
I sent an email to the media link and made a request that they use their channels to help ensure the police fully investigate the crime/homicide/death of your son and to bring those responsible to justice. I called the other number. The Officer or woman who answered the phone was a bit defensive about my request and wanted to just say ok, I heard what you asked. I asked that she document my request in the police blog. Her name was renee and she agree to do this verbally. I asked that she note with my name and phone number that I called to make this request. Hoping if enough people do this they will be compelled to fully investigate and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. You are in my prayers.
Katie and family-
I will indeed.
I am the mom of 4 (adopted) kids. Three joined us as babies; one joined us a teenager. She began her journey to addiction years before she became our daughter. It was a long journey after she became our child until she embraced recovery at the age of 23. (She's now 28). Many a time we thought we might lose her before she could find recovery.
Addiction is an illness, not a character flaw.
I am so very sorry that this illness claimed the life of your son…and that others actively contributed to his death. I am so sorry that he does not have the chance to continue pursuing recovery and contributing to the world.
I am holding all of you in my heart and in the light.
I send each of you healing energy.
I am thinking of your son and grateful he was here, grateful for his contributions, though cut short, do matter.
peace
marlowe
I wish I could write something that would help, Henry! Thinking of you and your family. Hugs Katie.
Katie-
I've followed your blog for years and I have been touched by the awful tragedy that has fallen on your family. I will keep this experience in my mind as I have two young boys of my own and if this can happen to you, it can certainly happen to anyone. May god bring peace to your family and may we all take the lessons from this sensless tragedy to our hearts.
Katie,
There is someone you should get in touch with immediately, and I mean immediately. Her name is Lois Duncan. She is best known for writing the book "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Her 18 year old Kait was murdered in 1989. Killed in her car while driving back to her parents' house. Lois wrote a book about it entitled "Who Murdered My Daughter?" The case is still unsolved. Lois will have some tips for you on how to deal with the police NOW while the case is fresh. For instance, she turned over a cache of Kait's letters that may have contained clues as to who dunnit and the letters disappeared into a police wastebasket and they, good hearted citizens trusting the police to be honest, didn't even make copies of the letters. Do it NOW!!!!!! I'm begging you!!! Here is her website: http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com/
As a lawyer of 28 years, do not assume that the police are competent, honest citizens who will exert every possible effort to find the murderers. Lois and her husband, lost in grief and innocent in the ways of Cop World, made some crucial mistakes AT THE EXACT TIME IN THE CASE THAT YOU ARE AT RIGHT NOW. I'm sure she will be happy to help you.
They are STILL fighting daily to find Kait's murderers and piece together the story, which is more bizarre than the most imaginative mystery writer could possibly create.
God bless and keep you and your family.
P.S. I write about my girls at http://cluelessincarolina.blogspot.com and I can tell you that I will be addressing this on my blog and linking back to you. Nothing will ever make up for the loss of your beloved child but know that I will be HYPERVIGILANT as my kids careen into adolescence. I had already vaguely assumed that I'd find evidence of some "harmless fun" drug use during the teenage years coming up and that I would lecture but not freak out. NOW you can be that I'm FREAKED OUT. My mom had me convinced that one puff on a bong and I'd be on the path towards death, and I never tried it. (I also wanted to be a lawyer and was afraid of a record). I'm gonna copy Mom and terrify my kids. They will be reading this blog, you can be sure!!!
Katie,
There are so few words other than to say, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Henry's story – your story – has struck me to the core. I could have been Henry. My mom could have been you. My best friend was Henry. Her mom, my second mom, was you. We buried her 17 years ago, yesterday.
Here is part of a comment I left on knoxnews.com and epitomizes how I feel tonight:
My heart and my prayers go out to Henry’s family. This could be my child and this could be your child. Unless you've faced addiction head on, you may not judge this family or this child; for you are ignorant as to the true depth of this evil disease we call addiction.
Rest in peace, sweet Henry.
Katie, I have no words that will ease your pain. Please know I am praying for your entire family. I am SO very sorry for what you are going through and what has been going on in the investigation (lack there of) should be criminal itself. Your statement of "Henry didn’t have to die. He didn’t want to die." is so true…and no matter what, he did NOT deserve to die!!! (but I know I am just preaching to the choir). Thank you so much for baring your heart and soul during this time.
I know a gentleman who works with teenage addicts, and I would love to share your website with him in hopes it can help even one more person. I hope that is okay with you.
I'm not sure if you remember me, but I've been a member of parent-l since 1996 and so clearly remember you (I didn't actively post)! My children are Mariah (18), McKenna (14), Miranda (10) and Josiah (3).
God Bless you during this time.
Love and prayers, Tracey
Katie, I did not personally know Henry. He is a year younger than me but many of my friends know him. I have read all of your blogs and every post from the news websites. I am honestly heart broken that this has happened. Your right, this did NOT have to/need to happen. I wish the best for your family as you are going through this. You are one strong mother. I look up to you for keeping everyone posted. Keep your head up and don't ever give up. Justice should be served. I'm praying for you and your family.
-Allison
My heart aches and I cry for you and your family tonight. You are a wonderful mama. I hugged my sweet girls so tightly tonight after reading your story. There is no way to know what will happen, and despite all your "parenting through the rearview mirror" analysis there is nothing that can predict when something like this will happen. I wish you peace. You have touched me so.
I did comment on the article. I am a little appalled at some thing that were said though. Henry didn't have to die. The people that did this to him need to be brought to justice. They killed a young man with a future ahead of him.
Your story isn't in vain. Let me explain. You see, I have always said that when somebody is addicted to drugs, alcohol or anything else that they were a 'drunk'. By gosh, they chose their life now they need to get out of it themselves. I do NOT believe this anymore! Henry's story has made me realize that addiction is truly an ILLNESS! A DISEASE that needs to be treated like any other physical problems. Oh, how I feel badly about how I used to think, but now, I will never say that again. I will do everything in my power to help those I know to be 'healed' of this awful disease that has sucked them into a life of wretchedness I believe they never wanted.
Thank you for sharing! Thank you! I will never be the same.
Thank you for sharing Henry's story. I recognise so many of the names here from parent-l which I think of as something that I was a part of when my kids were little. Now that they're 18 and 16 (Shaked and Matan), it's a gap of many years, but this is their cohort. I'm talking to them, hugging them, and hoping for their futures. We are participating in your family's sorrow.
Dear Ms. Granju. I am so sorry to hear of your son's death, there is no way a parent can not feel devastated when they have to say goodbye to a child who has died.
In full support of your comment that drug addicted kids can recover, as a Licensed Professional Counselor with some 40 years experience in working with addicted kids, I can only say that you are absolutely correct, they can, and do. Henry's death was pointless and needless as are the deaths of so many other children with similar circumstances.
You and your family will be in my prayers and I'm asking for God's healing grace for all of you.
As a parent who has lost a child I pray that god grants you the strength during your time of of need
Katie, I am so sorry for what you, Chris, and your entire family are going through. As if coping with the worst tragedy a parent can experience, you are having to fight for justice for your beloved son ontop of it all. Because you seem to be asking for insight into the criminal justice system, I hope it doesn't compound your pain by sharing a little of that here.
I have had my own negative experiences with the KPD and other law enforcement organizations, the DA's office, and the courts, all associated with drug-related crime. They do not seem to care about anything or anyone having to to do with said crimes. In fact,, my experiences with them were actually more traumatizing for me than the actual crimes. In general , I don't think they care about anything until someone dies, and even then the inaction is astonishing, as you are now experiencing. I think we can lay some of the blame also at the feet of our mayor and extending out to other gov. officials. Evidence in support of that fact are the statistics having to do with national crime rates, with Knoxville consistently ranking in the top fifty of all US cities. Additionally, as you know, the addiction problems we are facing as a community are worsened by the fact that the state government continues to eliminate funding for treatment programs including the elimination of a TN affiliate of A Partnership for A Drug Free America programs.
I don't have any advice for you other than that you should prepare yourself for a great deal of frustration and an extended drawn out battle with the system for getting justice, a process which will be exhausting and demoralizing. Honestly. after what I experienced, I can tell you that as ridiculous as it may seem to say it, I encourage you to focus on you and your family in its grieving and then healing process, because it may not be worth it for you to have to endure the additional pain and suffering that process of battling the criminal justice system might cause you if they do not take immediate, swift action. I hope that it doesn't upset you for me to share this information with you. I am only sharing this because I deeply care and saddened for you by the whole situation. Please don't hesitate to ask if there is anything I can do for you. With all my love and deepest sympathy,
My heart and thoughts are with u, ur family, and henry also! I will be doing my part 2 let KCSO kno how important a thorough investigation in needed and deserved. Its unreal 2 me that nothing more has even been done thus far. I too struggled w drugs @ a young age, and have turned my life into a quite productive one. I am so sorry for ur loss and will be sending positive thoughts and lots of love ur way
What am I missing here…can anyone explain? It sounds like on the news that the investigators are not "directly" linking Henry's death to being beaten up? How are they thinking he received the injuries to his head, chest, etc.? if not from being terribly beaten? From my knowledge, taking drugs does not cause the injury. So to those in charge….PLEASE take charge and provide justice for Henry!
Very very sorry about your son..I truly believe justice comes…sometimes in its own timing..but no one ever gets away with doing WRONG…I hope those that caused your son's death gets their justice soon.
Katie, so you will know, I emailed the KCSD. Maybe it will help this case if they
realise that mothers all over the world are following this story.
The story of your beautful Henry is touching people in a huge way. His life had meaning
and he is helping more people than you will ever know.
Thank you for so bravely sharing and my deepest sympathy for this loss to your
family.
~Julie, a mom, Savannah GA
Just e-mailed KCSO. Will be praying for justice. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I wish this kind of pain was not in the world.
Neely Stansell Simpson
I recently heard your story and I couldn't sleep. I just thinking… that could be my son. My heart really goes out to you and your family at this time.
Denise