Feb 272011
If you are on Twitter (you can follow me at @kgranju), please share a link this blog post using the hashtag, #justiceforhenry
Below is information you need to know before reading what I have to say about my son’s death, and the way his case has been treated by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the office of the Knox County Attorney General. Thank you for reading it in full.
- My son, Henry Granju died on May 31, 2010 after 38 days of terrible suffering in the hospital. He was only 18 years old. He did not want to die.
- My only goal in sharing this information, and in telling our family’s story is to encourage local authorities to conduct a full, professional criminal investigation into the circumstances of my son’s death. That has not happened yet. It is my belief that if a high-caliber, completely objective investigation were to take place, there would be arrests and prosecutions of the individuals whose criminal behavior led to my child’s fatal brain injury.
- Henry suffered from a serious drug addiction. Our family has been completely open about this, and we will continue to be completely open about it. His drug problem led him to involvement with the people whom we believe are criminally responsible for his death.
- Both Tennessee law and federal statute define death resulting from the distribution of illegal drugs as homicide.
- While “failure to render aid” is not a de facto criminal offense in Tennessee, prosecutors should look at the totality of the circumstances in deciding whether failure to render aid rises to the level of criminal liability based on omission.
- Cases in which drug suppliers are successfully prosecuted in overdose deaths are increasingly common all over the country. They offer one important tool to authorities in fighting the drug overdose epidemic now terrorizing our communities. (Here is a running list of such prosecutions which I intend to update regularly. Check it out to see how different prosecutors approach these cases in different ways in order to get results) Knox County has a very poor record in prosecuting such cases (I can only find one case, and as far as I can tell, the case remains unresolved). However, by actively investigating and prosecuting Henry’s case, it would allow local authorities to send a powerful message that things have changed, and drug dealers are on notice.
- I am publishing this information on my blog because it’s the only platform available to me to make it all public.
- I will be publishing the information in separate installments in the days ahead because it’s simply too much for me to pull together into one, standalone blog post.
- If I remember things I accidentally left out, or if I receive information or materials that were not included in one of the installments/blog posts that I publish, I will edit my original version to add the new information. This means that what I will be writing in the days ahead is a type of living document. Any editorial or factual changes I make after an previous version of something I’ve written is published should not be viewed as me trying to be “sneaky” or “change the facts.” Instead, any changes that I might make to what I first published are a reflection of new information or material being made available to me, or of me adding more details if I later remember a detail I failed to mention.
- Our family is actively seeking media coverage of Henry’s case. If you have national, regional or local media contacts, we would be immensely grateful if you would draw those contacts’ attention to Henry’s case, and to our family’s story. We are happy to speak on the record to reporters at any time. Again, just email me at mamapundit@gmail.com
- I will be referencing specific documents, witnesses and other supporting material. If you are a member of the media interested in covering Henry’s case, or our family’s quest for justice, please email me directly at mamapundit@gmail.com. I will be more than happy to provide the original documentation (emails, medical records, etc) to legitimate journalists. I will also be more than happy to put you in immediate, direct contact with the witnesses I reference.
- If you have information, tips or other material you believe would help us with Henry’s case, please DO NOT post it in the comments, but instead email it directly to me at mamapundit@gmail.com.
- I have huge respect for the incredibly challenging and underfunded work that is done by law enforcement, as well as prosecutors. My sharing of what our family’s unfortunate experiences have been thus far should in no way give the impression that I have anything but the greatest admiration for those of you who work at these difficult and underappreciated jobs. I continue to be optimistic that criminal investigators and prosecutors will do the right thing in my son’s case.
- I welcome your comments below my blog posts related to Henry’s case. I cannot respond to every comment, but I will try when possible to answer specific questions commenters may raise. If I am unable to respond personally to some specific question or comment, this is simply a matter of limited time on my part and should in no way be seen as me “ignoring” someone’s comment.
- I welcome your comments, even if you disagree with me or question my recounting of information. However, this is a very stressful undertaking, and I am not willing to allow pointlessly inflammatory, unkind, flatly erronious, or insulting comments to remain. I will delete them. So if you want to disagree, please do so politely and in a way that is relevant to Henry’s case.
- I will also delete pretty much any comments that specifically reference Henry’s brother or sisters, no matter what the comment is about (meaning, even nice comments). I am sure you can understand my reasoning for this.
- Our entire family, including Henry’s father, his stepparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents stand together in trying to get authorities to fully and objectively investigate Henry’s death. While I am writing in the first person as Henry’s mother, I am writing with the active input of the rest of our family.
- Last, but not least, while I am a writer by trade, this is not something I ever expected or wanted to write. It concerns the painful death of my teenage son, and it requires me to pull together a lot of information. Thus, I will do my best to create a coherent and well-organized narrative, but I ask your patience if my writing is not at its best in telling this story. What matters here is the information, and I will do my very best to make that understandable and readable.
Thank you.
Katie, Henry’s Mama
Next: Justice for Henry – Part 2
If you are on Twitter (you can follow me at @kgranju), please share a link this blog post using the hashtag, #justiceforhenry
33 Responses to “Justice for Henry – Part 1”
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You go. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll get the help Henry’s life deserves.
You have so many people on your side….I am only one but I’ll do my part to spread the word.
All the best, Katie, for this painful and necessary undertaking. I sincerely hope that something can come out of this that gives you and your family some sense of peace in this most awful nightmare.
I hope it helps to know we are all lifting you up.
Katie, you are such a strong person for standing up for yourself. My hope for you is to find the people who murdered your son and bring them to justice. It doesn’t matter if was using drugs, no one deserves to die in the way your boy did. It is in no way a reflection on your parenting. I hope everything works out for you and I look forward to the day you post that it’s all over because those responsible have been brought to justice.
Will you please let us know if you add an update to a post? I usually don’t go back and re-read the older ones.
Thank you for everything you are doing to stop the insanity!
wishing you strength.
I don’t know how we can help you, but I believe, firmly, that you are doing what every parent should do for their kids. Henry is not alone. You are not alone.
Continued grace and strength to you and your entire family.
I am very sorry for your loss. I wish you and your family peace and hope that you get the criminal investigation that Henry’s death deserves.
Not only do we want justice for our indescribable loss, but believe that without it, the same people will injure and kill others. Without consequences, they will continue to prey on young addicts and other families will experience the hell ours has and continues to suffer.
I read your list and continue to look eagerly for justice for Henry.
About your “living document.” If you are worried about opening yourself up to charges that you are manipulating/changing information, when you are really just trying to update it, maybe it would be a good idea for you to maintain another post where you keep a record or log of the changes you have made (sort of like the history page in a Wikipedia article). It would also function as a record of the timeline at which new information became available to you.
I’m sorry for your struggle finding justice for your beautiful son. My kindest and most healing thoughts coming your way.
My 24 year old son is a recovering drug addict. My heart breaks for your loss and I am reminded how close he came to losing his life. I’m here, praying and waiting for justice for your Henry.
Courage, Katie. You are doing the right thing.
As a mom, my heart goes out to you. I will share your story with as many people as I can as I am sure that all others who read this post will do.
Justice will come one way or another.
I lost my young nephew two years ago in Middle Tenn. at the hands of drug-selling crimminals. They were not prosecuted. To this day, I’m sure these crimminals are still looking for potential victims. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
In complete support of your efforts to find justice for your beloved Henry.
I hope and pray something, out of somewhere, will bring justice in this case. You have our family’s full support.
Many blessings to you and your family on your journey towards healing. Thank you for bringing to light the issue of drug dealers as being directly responsible, or at the very least accomplices, in overdose and drug-related deaths.
I think you continue to fight for Henry. It was too late to help him in life, as his life was cut short. But it is NEVER too late to fight for justice. There are no statute of limitations to murder. Ultimately, Henry died of his injuries from assault. That constitutes murder, doesn’t it?
Fight for Henry!
As the mother of a teen, I am very grateful for what you are doing. I know it would be easier to spend your time just trying to forget. Noone can anticipate when addiction will rear its ugly head, and I know it may be my own son whose life you save by following this through to the end.
I am here.
I’m sorry for what has happened to your son, your family, to you. I’m reading your blog to show support for your effort. Good luck.
Standing in support of you and your family and especially Henry, Katie.
I’m sorry to hear about your son. I wish you love and healing. I don’t know how I can help, but, I will read your blog.
My heart goes out to you, Katie, in your courageous journey to find justice for Henry’s senseless death. It’s unbelievable that law enforcement acted so callously and recklessly in their so-called investigation when it’s so very clear that Henry experienced a brutal, violent beating that the people in whose house he stayed must have had knowledge of. Just blows my mind.
our selves are not apart… admire your efforts and am so sorry for your loss
I admire your fortitude in searching for justice in a time of incredible pain. Your readers learn a lot about life, love, addiction and its cruel aftermath. I hope Henry and your family receive the justice you seek. These articles are well written.
I am very saddened to read this tragic story. My son has been dealing with this same addiction and problem for about 2 yrs now. I just recently took him to the Emergency room at the Hospital because of a possible overdose. Even after testing positive he still wouldn’t admit a problem and even denied to the Dr. he hasn’t done any of these things. I am just praying that he will seek help before he ends up like your son. Your family will be in my prayers. I hope that you get the justice your family deserves.
Is it possible that the unidentified cell phone that Y handed over belonged to Henry’s girlfriend? Can you get a charger and access the texts on that phone as well?
I teach and am horrified at how common drugs, especially meth and pills, are in schools. Legally there is little a teacher can do. (Expensive) drug tests are not used and searches are not helpful. The kids grow more clever as we create new steps to curb dealing, sharing, and using. Let everyone know: there are children at school on drugs and these children may be dealing to/encouraging your child throughout the day, every day.
I am so grateful that you are fighting against drugs. Something has to be done and I am at a loss at how to do it.