Grand Rapid Press
MUSKEGON, Mich. — Law enforcement officials have concluded the death last December of a 14-year-old Holton boy from prescription drugs he found in his home was accidental and that no charges will be filed.
Chief Assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor Brett Gardner said the decision was based on an investigation by the Michigan State Police Grand Haven post and a review by his office.
In addition, the case was re-examined last week by a child fatality review team consisting of representatives of the state police, the prosecutor’s office, the medical examiner and Michigan Child Protective Services. While the specific findings of the committee cannot be released publicly, Gardner said the committee’s finding was “nothing any different.”
Spiro Anderson was found unresponsive Dec. 18 inside the living room of his Holton home by his mother, Christina Michelle Anderson. Responding paramedics alerted the state police when they determined the boy had died overnight.
Three months later, the Michigan State Police Grand Haven Post concluded the boy died from an accidental overdose. Toxicology results released in March by state police found deadly combinations of the pain killer methadone and the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam in the victim’s blood samples. The autopsy also revealed traces of hydrocodone, a narcotic pain reliever, and tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana; neither was a factor in the boy’s death.
According to state police investigators, methadone and alprazolam were among several prescription drugs found in the home that were prescribed to the boy’s mother and a female roommate living in the home.
Gardner said investigators were told the drugs were kept in a cabinet and found no evidence the victim had been encouraged to take prescription drugs or had been offered drugs by adults in the home. Gardner said the boy was old enough to know what he was doing when he ingested a deadly combination of painkillers.
“If a mom keeps all sorts of drugs around a home and a 5- or 6-year-old took them and died, or gave it to a young sibling, there potentially is going to be criminal responsibility because of a neglect issue,” Gardner said. “But when you are talking about a 14-year-old kid who knows what is right and wrong, that’s another situation.”