NEW UPDATES: Overdose-Related Homicide Prosecutions Roundup – The Running List

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Our Family’s Story

Our teenage son, Henry Granju died on May 31, 2010 of a complication of hypoxic brain injury known as Delayed Post Hypoxic Leukoencephalopathy. Hypoxic brain injuries are caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, and in Henry’s case, his fatal brain injury was determined to be the result of a drug overdose that led to depressed breathing, aspiration pneumonia and other medical issues know to cause hypoxia. Henry arrived at the emergency room on April 27, 2010 by ambulance.  He was unconscious, bruised, bleeding from both ears and near death.

Over the next five weeks, Henry was treated for both the physical trauma to his head and chest, as well as for the hypoxic insult to his brain. After 38 days of terrible suffering, Henry succumbed to the hypoxic brain injury, never having walked, dressed himself or played one note of music again. He died the week he should have graduated high school with his friends.

Henry was found by paramedics near death, bruised and bleeding, just before noon on a weekday. He was inside the private residence of two much older adults, at least one of whom has a criminal record. Neither of the two adults could offer any reasonable explanation for how they knew this teenage boy, or how he had ended up in this condition inside their home. The pair told police that they had only met Henry the night before, and in an effort to be “good samaritans,” they had offered to bring him back to their residence so they could help him. They claimed that they only discovered his critical medical condition, including the bleeding and bruising, when they arose and couldn’t wake Henry the next morning. They also claimed that as soon as they realized that Henry was in medical distress, that they called 911 for Henry right away – in a timely and responsible fashion.

The story told by the two adults who were alone with Henry inside their home for the approximately 15 hours immediately preceding his emergency hospital admission does not make sense, nor does it stand up to even the most basic fact-checking.  Since the first week following Henry’s hospital admission, our family has presented investigators and prosecutors with highly specific information and data that contradicts the version of events offered by the two adults.

Our family seeks a full and unbiased criminal investigation into the circumstances of how Henry came to suffer what proved to be a fatal hypoxic brain injury, as well as how he ended up with significant physical trauma. All of the media coverage of our son’s death thus far (99% of which appeared in the week immediately following his death)  has focused on only one question: was Henry’s cause of death caused by physical assault? Given that Henry’s cause of death was noted by his treating neurologist on the day he passed away to be complication from hypoxic brain injury, our family did not expect his autopsy to disprove that diagnosis. And it didn’t; it confirmed it.

But the fact that Henry’s physical injuries didn’t end up being the one element of his complex, multifactorial medical condition that actually killed him 38 days after he was brought into the hospital doesn’t mean that they don’t matter. First of all, he was clearly assaulted, and that should matter. He didn’t beat himself up. But the physical injuries should also matter for purposes of criminal investigation. If someone is brought into the ER with a gunshot wound to the head, as well as three broken toes, the broken toes may not be what killed the victim, but they should definitely be part of what investigators will look into to try to figure out what happened .

The only thing investigators have said definitively about my son’s case -ever – is that they agree with the Medical Examiner’s findings that Henry did not die as the result of an injury caused by physical assault.  But that leaves a great many unanswered questions that deserve to be investigated.  Why was this adult couple so actively interested in cultivating a relationship with a teenage boy, and why did they want to take him home with them that night? Why would they say they had only met Henry for the first time the night they took him home? What happened inside that residence during those 15 hours? Was anyone else besides Henry and the adult couple in the house during those hours? How did Henry end up bruised and bleeding? How long was it before 911 was called, and what were the circumstances of the call? What relationship might this adult couple have had to the drugs on which Henry overdosed? If this adult couple didn’t supply the drugs, who did, and are they still dealing in our community, meaning that others may die? Do either of the two adults who took Henry home have prescriptions for drugs that might be diverted for illegal use? If the assault Henry is known to have suffered approximately 36 hours before going home with this adult couple didn’t cause his physical, non-overdose-related injuries, what did? Do phone and text records confirm this couple’s version of events leading up to Henry’s death? Are there witnesses or other types of evidence – such as on a computer or cell phone that might link this adult couple to drugs Henry ingested in the 24 hours before his hospital admission?

Investigating and Prosecuting Overdose Deaths

Not every drug overdose death should be dismissed as merely “accidental.” That’s why a growing number of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors around the country are utilizing the state and federal laws already on the books to investigate suspicious overdose cases as potential homicides, and to bring homicide charges when appropriate against those who played a role in the overdose victim’s death. Henry’s case is undoubtedly complex, from both a medical and a criminal investigation standpoint. However, our family believes that the professional competence to truly investigate and prosecute even a complex case like our son’s exists within our community’s criminal justice agencies, if only someone – anyone – within one of those agencies would take a real interest in what happened to our boy. Henry’s case needs an advocate within our system, and that’s what we are seeking on his behalf.

Let me be as clear as I can: based on what I know with significant certainty about what happened to my teenage son, there is a HIGH likelihood that someone else’s son or daughter in our community will also overdose and die in a similar fashion unless investigators and prosecutors treat Henry’s death as something other than an unfortunate accident attributable only to my son’s admitted drug problem.  And that breaks my heart. No matter what happens, I never get to have my child back, but no one else should lose their beloved boy or girl because no one in authority cared enough about this case to truly advocate for the very best investigation, and at least an attempt at prosecution.

Arrests and Prosecutions in Overdose Cases

Below, please find a running list – updated regularly – of cases around the U.S. in which homicide and other charges are being pursued in overdose deaths.  These cases are well-recognized as an important element in fighting the overdose epidemic now sweeping our communities. Please share any cases you know of in which drug suppliers have been/are being prosecuted in overdose deaths. You can post links to cases in the comments below this blog post and I will then add them to this list.

Note: I am not including any of the rapidly growing number of cases around the country in which prescribing physicians are prosecuted for homicide in overdose deaths.

Thank you – Katie, Henry’s mama


OVERDOSE CASES WITH QUESTIONABLE INVESTIGATIONS

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29 thoughts on “NEW UPDATES: Overdose-Related Homicide Prosecutions Roundup – The Running List”

  2. This one seems strangely similar to Henry's case: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-05-08/ne…
    <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fD2ONRr8s6IJ :www.ctpost.com/news/article/3-arrested-in-drug-overdose-death-989867.php+overdose+death+connecticut+charged&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com” target=”_blank”>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=ca…” target=”_blank”>:www.ctpost.com/news/article/3-arrested-in-drug-overdose-death-989867.php+overdose+death+connecticut+charged&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com (this link is long but it's because the article is cached)
    <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:7u_vSgRvXCkJ:m.ctpost.com/connpost/db_12478/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid%3D28B778C01EEAC101734C3296B99ADA80%3Fcontentguid%3DCPLsgk17%26detailindex%3D1%26pn%3D0%26ps%3D4+overdose+death+connecticut+charged&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source =www.google.com” target=”_blank”>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=ca…” target=”_blank”>=www.google.com (also cached)

  10. KALAMAZOO — The man who sold the heroin that ended up killing 18-year-old Amy Bousfield nearly two years ago was ordered Monday to spend at least 10 years in prison.

    Curtis Odell Thompson, 39, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 10 1 / 2 to 40 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance causing death.

    Thompson last month pleaded no contest to the charge, as well as to a December charge of delivery/manufacture of less than 50 grams of a controlled substance.

    He was sentenced to a concurrent term 57 months to 20 years in prison on that second charge.

    In a no-contest plea, a defendant neither admits guilty but the judge is able to sentence the defendant as if he or she is guilty.

    Thompson was the fourth person charged in connection with the death of Bousfield, of Portage, who died in June 2008 after snorting heroin with a friend, Carrie Wickham.

    Wickham was acquitted in August 2009 of charges related to the death of her friend. Joseph Wheeler, an acquaintance of Wickham and Bousfield, and Cristina Dickerson both pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance causing death. Wheeler was sentenced to one year in jail.

    Dickerson was sentenced to three to 20 years in prison.

    Thompson was identified by investigators as the “for profit” dealer in the mix.

    Thompson declined to speak before being sentenced by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Pamela L. Lightvoet.

    The description was refuted by Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Fenton, who pointed out Thompson’s previous criminal record, which contains 10 felonies and 17 misdemeanors.

    Thompson was also on parole at the time of the second charge.

    “Most troubling was the fact that he was referring to the drugs (he was selling) as ‘killer white girl Portage s—,’ or words to that effect,” Fenton said. “So he knows it killed someone.”

    Some of Thompson’s 20 supporters in the courtroom yelled their love and support to him as he was ushered out.

    “For the sake of the family I’m glad there’s a resolution,” Detective Matthew Wolfe of the Portage Police Department said after the sentencing. “It doesn’t bring Amy back, but there’s closure.”

    Related topics: Amy Bousfield

  12. Katie,

    As I was shuttling kids around tonight, this special report came on our local NPR station. Or course I thought of Henry, even though our families don't know each other. Know that your writing and telling Henry's story is making a difference. Here is a link to the report – I think you can listen to it online or download a podcast:
    http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/program/florida_matt…

  16. I am the father of Danielle McCarthy, she is on our web site:friendsdontletfriendsdie.com, our site has been mentioned a couple of times in the comments above, After our daughters death we went through a very long trial and got little justice, but with the prosecution of one of those resposible for our daughters death we were able to set a new precedent in how these cases are handled in WA state, more and more are being brought to justice due to the prosecution of those that caused Danielle's death. Those that sell, give or share drugs with others must be held accountable for the death of those that they gave the drugs to. After Danielle's death we stood strong and pushed hard to get those responsible, brought to justice. We went through a very long trial, three appeals and we went all the way to the Supreme court but the conviction stood and we made a difference. Danielle's story and others are on our site, please visit our site and if we can help in any way, please let us know.
    We are so sorry for the tragic and seneless loss of Henry. We know that you hurt and it always will, From one parent to another that has lost a child, you are not alone, we are here to help.

  20. I saw the video and all during it I kept wondering about the fact that there was a physical assault with head trauma. I have wondered about this for days. Maybe that medical examiner is wrong, sometimes they are. I feel the trauma to his head was the initial problem. I've felt this every since I saw his video….. it's been heavy on my mind.

  23. just want to say go mama, and all those out there who fight. I think of Henry often, and wish you all peace.

  24. Your case made its way to Metafilter, where the community has picked up on this story and offered comments, spreading it much further than Knoxville. I do believe your blog tactics to bring attention to Henry's tragic death are working, and I just wanted to let you know this, in case it helps reassure you that you are on the right path.

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