Justice for Henry - I can no longer remain silent

[kag]

(Crossposted at KnoxViews. Thanks Blabbers)

My name is Katie Granju, and I am a Knox County resident. My teenage son, Henry Granju died on May 31, 2010 at UT Medical Center. He was first admitted to the hospital 38 days previously, suffering from a drug overdose, aspiration pneumonia, and multiple physical injuries.

For 10 months, I have waited for Knox County authorities to do the right thing and undertake a full, unbiased and professional criminal investigation into the circumstances of my son's death. During those 10 months, I have declined to speak publicly about the specific details of my son's injuries and death, or about how the investigation has been handled. I believed that if I remained silent, authorities would be more likely to fully investigate, with an eye toward making arrests. Sadly, and to my huge disappointment, that hasn't happened. Thus, our family has made the very difficult decision to for the first time begin publicly discussing the details of Henry's case, and how it's been treated.

If you are interested in learning more about our family's quest for justice for Henry, and for all Knox County overdose victims, you can read my just-begun narrative about the case over at my personal blog (http://www.mamapundit.com)

I appreciate your interest and support. This is not a pleasant undertaking, and we wish it hadn't become necessary.

Thank you,

Katie Allison Granju
Henry Granju's mama

[chuck taylor]

Katie, this is my first time stating this on the Blab ... I am very sick of what happened to Henry, and very sorry for him, and his entire family, and friends that have been affected by this incident.

I have told one or two others, and I will tell you ... in my free time ... if you need anything, contact me, and I will do whatever you think I could do to help out. I like doing, and seeing things 100% of the way through.

Regards,

CT

[Scott]

I just read through the three parts to your blog, I am in tears. It is what I had expected but still very hard to imagine the pain that you must have felt and are feeling. Hopefully telling your story will ease some of the burden.

Hopefully we can bring attention to the problems involved with drugs and violence and bring compassion, justice and changes where needed.

[Mykhailo]

Seriously painful to listen to. Will say that I'm so far very impressed with Hallerin's interviewing, although I can't stomach the thought of staying to hear the calls in the next hour.

[Mykhailo]

Here's a link to the HHH interview (http://987newstalk.com/Article.asp?id=552445&spid=19731) (it's from 8 am to 9 am), and to a short bit on WUOT (http://sunsite.utk.edu/wuot/mt/podcast/030411Granju.mp3) this morning with Matt Shafer Powell. Just appalling the way KCSO handled this.

Katie, as she mentioned above, is in the process of providing a very detailed account of what she knows about the circumstances surrounding Henry's death, and the subsequent KCSO investigation at her blog (http://www.mamapundit.com). I strongly encourage you to check it out.

[Mykhailo]

Chris Granju and Katie Allison Granju will be discussing Henry's case this evening on the 6 o'clock newscast on WVLT Channel 11 (Channel 5 on Comcast).

[Scott]

Bringing attention to this case will help all of Knoxville. This will bring light to the problems that need to be solved in our communities.


What would you do if this was your child?

[Scott]

Katie just added part 7

[Headless Geisha]

This just continues to get more awful. As someone who had to recently deal with trying to get charges brought on a stranger that attacked us in a parking garage, I know from first hand experience how difficult it is to get any help from our local law enforcement. I remember thinking, I can't imagine how difficult this is for people without the time, means, or strength to press on. My situation was NOTHING compared to this. How Katie has the strength to fight this is beyond me, but it is infuriating.

[kag]

Thanks everyone. I will be a guest on CNN's Jane Velez-Mitchell show some evening this week to discuss Henry's case, likely tomorrow night. - KAG, JAH and the rest of Henry's family

[Mykhailo]

If you haven't read part 8, you need too. Extremely painful, but it lays out exactly why the lack of effort by KCSO and the DA's office is so disturbing, and why Henry's family has not let this go.

http://mamapundit.com/2011/03/justice-for-henry-part-8/

[spinetingler]

maybe time to contact one of those cold case or unsolved mystery shows (and a good PI).

[Scott]

Why wouldn't they investigate this?

[kag]

Scott - kcso and the knox county da's office would tell you that they've investigated my child's death very, very thoroughly. :-( katie

[Scott]

I share your frustration, it is just maddening.

[Scott]

Henry’s Case to Be Featured on CNN’s “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell”
Posted on March 7, 2011, 11:36 pm by kagranju

On Tuesday evening, March 8, I will be a guest on CNN’s “Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell Show,” discussing the lack of progress in Henry’s case, and our family’s quest for justice for our child.

http://mamapundit.com/2011/03/henrys-case-to-be-featured-on-cnns-issues-with-jane-velez-mitchell/

[Mykhailo]

The interview is on tonight at 7 pm. Hope it does some good.

edit: apparently it's in the 7:30 segment.

edit edit: it's apparently on something called the "CNN HLN Channel", whatever that is. I watched a couple of clips of JV-M on her website, and, to put it delicately, she is difficult to listen to for an extended period of time. But, exposure.

[Tess]

I am very sympathetic to the fact that the family lost their young son.

What I don't understand is the serial about how he died. In chapters.

Is this so someone will come forward with more information? It just seems salacious to me.

And, again, the last thing I want to do is offend family members, but don't understand.

[DnB]

I am very sympathetic to the fact that the family lost their young son.

What I don't understand is the serial about how he died. In chapters.

Is this so someone will come forward with more information? It just seems salacious to me.

And, again, the last thing I want to do is offend family members, but don't understand.

Katie explained in her first post that detailing what led up to and the subsequent events and resulting interactions with law enforcement officials were too painful to write and document at one time in one sitting. I can't imagine her and her family's pain. She is trying to get some semblance of justice for Henry, as well as any other victims in the same circumstances who have been ignored by the system.

[relentless1]

Who's to say how she should be dealing with this? I wouldn't dare try.

But I am pretty darned perplexed by the use of a sexual adjective to describe her chosen method.
Am I missing something?

[Tess]

?
I am not trying to start a shit storm, but there has been a lot of confusion in the story is all.

Maybe for good reason.

It seems like the legs are there as is with just the facts.

[Jamie Satterfield]

As far as I can tell, no one has come forward to say they saw this couple give Henry a fatal dose of methadone. That leaves KCSO with nothing more than hearsay, which is inadmissible in court. Not to mention that the initial claim was that Henry suffered broken ribs, a broken jaw and a skull fracture when the medical examiner specifically ruled out any proof of such injuries.
Should we be targeting dealers who supply people like Henry with drugs? Absolutely. KCSO certainly can and should try to build a case via traditional and legally acceptable means - send in a snitch and record buys, for example. But there simply is no prosecutable case based on what the family has so far revealed.

[Mykhailo]

Not to mention that the initial claim was that Henry suffered broken ribs, a broken jaw and a skull fracture when the medical examiner specifically ruled out any proof of such injuries.
Which KCSO apparently made no effort to determine the extent of or to document in his first days in the hospital, when it seemed very likely that Henry was on the edge of death, and possibly as the result of an assault.


As far as I can tell, no one has come forward to say they saw this couple give Henry a fatal dose of methadone.
They interviewed practically no one, so yeah.

[relentless1]

As far as I can tell, no one has come forward to say they saw this couple give Henry a fatal dose of methadone. That leaves KCSO with nothing more than hearsay, which is inadmissible in court. Not to mention that the initial claim was that Henry suffered broken ribs, a broken jaw and a skull fracture when the medical examiner specifically ruled out any proof of such injuries.
Should we be targeting dealers who supply people like Henry with drugs? Absolutely. KCSO certainly can and should try to build a case via traditional and legally acceptable means - send in a snitch and record buys, for example. But there simply is no prosecutable case based on what the family has so far revealed.

Point taken.
However, it is the job of law enforcement to try to gather evidence so that a prosecutable case can be presented. It's not the family's job. They are only attempting because the police are not.
Working in the law field for the past 15 years, I've seen law enforcement run with and develop a case with much, much less.

[DnB]

This kinda seems like not the right place or thread to doubt what the family knows.

[Scott]

anybody got a link to the CNN video? how did it go?

[Bbeanster]

Katie is doing this to bring pressure on the attorney general's office and KCSO to DO something besides call the people who had physical 'custody' of Henry the night before and the morning of his admission to UT Medical Center "Good Samaritans."
I attempted to do this story, but I wasn't able to nail the landing, so to speak, and in desperation, Katie has taken it upon herself to tell it and is doing a damn fine job.
As far as Jamie's point goes, there's actually quite a bit of evidence out there. I spoke to the young woman at whose apartment Henry spent the night after he'd been jumped and robbed by the three boys with whom he was doing a drug deal. She is very clear about Henry going off to meet "Randall and Yolanda" to get methadone for his headache the following day. A few minutes later, she was sitting out on her porch smoking when a van with "an older couple" inside pulled up and let Henry out. She described the van in some detail. She, her boyfriend and Henry went back in the apartment where she let Henry use her computer to look up a Web site called "Erowid"– a data base for drug information. He told her he was concerned that Yolanda had given him too big a dose of methadone. His fears were confirmed when he saw that the 80 mg she'd given him far exceeded a safe dosage. I spoke to the county ME about this and she told me that this is potentially a lethal dose.
The girl told me that Henry was very alarmed, but the drug started taking hold and seemed to take the edge off his anxiety and he just sort of 'floated' out into the Ft. Sanders afternoon. He showed up at Laurel School after awhile and went to have sushi with some friends. A boy who was with him there said he was extremely messed up (did a face plant into his food, needed assistance to walk) – and that Henry asked him to call Randall and Yolanda to come pick him up and take him to their place. The boy did that, drove out to John Sevier Highway and was met by a van that exactly matched the description of the one that Henry's young woman friend had seen Henry get out of that noon. And that's the last time anybody who'd ever known Henry saw him alive and walking, although he wasn't walking very well.
All that aside, there is verifiable evidence that Henry's "hosts" were very slow to call 911, bringing up the issue of failure to render aid.
Some of the kids I talked to had been interviewed by the detective in charge, but had more to tell him. Others hadn't been contacted at all, although the investigation is allegedly "ongoing" – which is why I cannot get basic stuff like the 911 report.
Finally, I had an old cop friend of mine tell me that he'd never heard of a sheriff or police chief saying the stuff about a victim (and his family) that JJ Jones said about this case on the day of Henry's funeral, particularly since they do claim it's an "ongoing investigation."
"Can you imagine what a defense attorney'd do with what that sheriff said?" he asked me.

[Bbeanster]

The question about what the family believed about his physical injuries prior to landing in that house trailer on Tarklin Valley Road is really kind of a red herring. An overdose of methadone killed Henry, not a kick to the chest or blows to the head. It would be good to solve that mystery, since none of the kids with whom he spent his last day in the free world saw evidence of injuries, but it really doesn't gainsay the effect of the drug overdose.

[swann]

anybody got a link to the CNN video? how did it go?
Katie did great! I don't know how she manages to remain so composed and focused when discussing something so heartbreaking.

Not sure about video yet, but she did just put the transcript up on her blog.

[kag]

Our family has launched a new website. I hope you will check it out and let others know about it:

http://www.JusticeForHenry.com

Thanks to everyone for the support. - xo - KAG & JAH, plus the rest of Henry's clan

[Mykhailo]

If anyone hasn't heard already:

Please join our community ON SATURDAY, MARCH 12 for a candlelight walk from Market Square to the Knox County Courthouse, beginning on the sidewalk at the end of Market Square next to the Women’s suffrage Statue at the end nearest the park. We can not gather on Market Square without a permit so try to stay on sidewalks or at the park. Do not stand in the streets. We want this to be a quiet, peaceful walk, not a rally. We want to be respectful and represent our community well. Please arrive as close to 6 pm as possible. We will begin our walk at 6:10 pm, making our way together to the Knox County Courthouse. Once there, please quiety place your letter on the steps and then we will disperse. Please bring a candle, as well as your own letter addressed to Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols requesting a full, professional and unbiased criminal investigation into the death of Henry Granju. We will leave our letters on the courthouse steps for Mr. Nichols. Henry loved music, and so hand drums, acoustic guitars and other musical instruments are very welcome at this peaceful, reverent event. This community is in the midst of a terrible overdose epidemic, and Henry could be any of our children. Let’s support the Granju family in their grief, and also remind Knox County authorities that everyone, even those struggling with addiction, deserve compassion, respect and justice.

[Rocky Hillian]

I'm just curious. There are lots of "media types" here on the Blab. Is anyone going to tackle this story? Even if (which is a huge stretch) the KCSO and prosecutors did do an excellent job, there still is the story of why the family doesn't see it that way. It is a little uncomfortable that national news outlets have had more in depth coverage of this than any local outlet. I was just wondering if something was in the works.

I forgot to add.. Since the investigation is officially closed, now. I would think that the KNS would at least report that.

[earlnemo]

It is a little uncomfortable that national news outlets have had more in depth coverage of this than any local outlet.


Links, please?

[Headless Geisha]

Links, please?

Here's one (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/03/28/henry-granju-a-mommy-blogger-seeks-justice-for-her-son.html).

[Jamie Satterfield]

KCSO's file is being released to the public on Friday and since Don Jacobs, who has been tracking this case as our cops reporter, is unavailable, I'll be reviewing and writing about it for Saturday's paper. I also am examining some aspects of this case and a related one for a project on the pill epidemic in this community that a team of us at the paper are currently working on.

[earlnemo]

Forgive me if I am misreading the facts, but has there been any official statement by the DA as to why Henry's death was not considered to be a homicide?

[The Pullet Surprise]

I noted the inclusion of the words "admissible evidence" in that release, which to me says that they believe that they can't make a case. That the evidence that they may have amounts to hearsay or similarly lacks probative value.

That said, there is no statute of limitations on homicide, so how they close the case is a little beyond my grasp.

Since they're waging PR war on the Granju family (which is what I would conclude about their continued insistence on going to the media before going to the family), it stands to reason that the only thing that would have them publicly close a murder investigation without frog-marching the perps in front of the justice center is that they want KAG to go away and to stop shaming them into doing their jobs professionally and transparently.

[Headless Geisha]

As a close friend of Henry's family, I know for a fact that they truly appreciate Jamie's authentic interest in this issue. But how is it that reporters know when the case file will be released to the public, but no one from the DA's office or KCSO has offered any info whatsoever to Chris and Katie about some sort of records release to them, the media or anyone else?

Also, doesn't the media or a citizen usually request the records first (I truly don't know how this works)? Why is the sheriff himself calling the media to offer public records ?

[Lee G]

Also, doesn't the media or a citizen usually request the records first (I truly don't know how this works)? Why is the sheriff himself calling the media to offer public records ?*

I hesitate to kibbitz outside my jurisdiction, but in Baltimore no one offers shit unless you ask/make them or it makes them look good.

[Rocky Hillian]

I noted the inclusion of the words "admissible evidence" in that release, which to me says that they believe that they can't make a case. That the evidence that they may have amounts to hearsay or similarly lacks probative value.

That said, there is no statute of limitations on homicide, so how they close the case is a little beyond my grasp.

Since they're waging PR war on the Granju family (which is what I would conclude about their continued insistence on going to the media before going to the family), it stands to reason that the only thing that would have them publicly close a murder investigation without frog-marching the perps in front of the justice center is that they want KAG to go away and to stop shaming them into doing their jobs professionally and transparently.

According to the KCSO the case doesn't constitute a homicide. It is an addict overdose. Not homicide, no investigation, no need to do any work to help fix the illegal prescription drug problem in the community. Oh yeah, it's just easier that way.

IMHO

[The Pullet Surprise]

According to the KCSO the case doesn't constitute a homicide. It is an addict overdose. Not homicide, no investigation, no need to do any work to help fix the illegal prescription drug problem in the community. Oh yeah, it's just easier that way.

IMHO

"Junkie on junkie crime" is still crime.

[Rocky Hillian]

Not in the eyes of KCSO, an many other jurisdictions I'm sure.

[metulj]

"Junkie on junkie crime" is still crime.

This is state of exception stuff and bone chilling if you care about human rights and freedom.

[rikki]

There is clear evidence the couple where Henry was picked up by ambulance delayed calling for help. That is a capital crime regardless of whether new drug-war laws might apply, and their delay can be established in court from sworn testimony of Henry's friends who begged the couple to call 911 for at least two hours before they actually did. Regardless of whatever evidence may have been spoiled or neglected by KCSO detectives and officers, there is enough residual, admissible evidence to let a jury decide the fate of Yolanda and Randall.

If the difference between prosecuting those two and failing to charge them is what evidence is admissible, all the more reason for the DA to let a jury decide justice, not politicians. It is simply not believable that no case can be made; what is true is the District Attorney is unsure if he can win the case. He should not base his decision on fear of failure. I don't know what evidence will get by a good defense attorney, but the evidence that exists is unimpeachable. A jury should decide whether the willful inaction of those two was the difference between Henry's recovery and his death.

[metulj]

There is clear evidence the couple where Henry was picked up by ambulance delayed calling for help. That is a capital crime regardless of whether new drug-war laws might apply, and their delay can be established in court from sworn testimony of Henry's friends who begged the couple to call 911 for at least two hours before they actually did. Regardless of whatever evidence may have been spoiled or neglected by KCSO detectives and officers, there is enough residual, admissible evidence to let a jury decide the fate of Yolanda and Randall.

If the difference between prosecuting those two and failing to charge them is what evidence is admissible, all the more reason for the DA to let a jury decide justice, not politicians. It is simply not believable that no case can be made; what is true is the District Attorney is unsure if he can win the case. He should not base his decision on fear of failure. I don't know what evidence will get by a good defense attorney, but the evidence that exists is unimpeachable. A jury should decide whether the willful inaction of those two was the difference between Henry's recovery and his death.

+1

[binR Bishop]

This is the part that seems most clear cut to me. Apparently several of Henry's friends would testify that they begged these people to call 911 for a long time before they finally did. And that Y& R were calling people on Henry's cell phone asking for help.

That seems pretty convincing to me, or at least enough to put in front of a jury. Of course, I'm neither lawyer or crime reporter. But it seems off.

[Gray]

+1

+2

[Johnny Ringo]

There is clear evidence the couple where Henry was picked up by ambulance delayed calling for help. That is a capital crime regardless of whether new drug-war laws might apply, and their delay can be established in court from sworn testimony of Henry's friends who begged the couple to call 911 for at least two hours before they actually did. Regardless of whatever evidence may have been spoiled or neglected by KCSO detectives and officers, there is enough residual, admissible evidence to let a jury decide the fate of Yolanda and Randall.


I'm not familiar with all the details of this case and this therefore may be a stupid question, but did none of these friends have a cell phone?

[Jamie Satterfield]

I can't speak for other media but KNS long ago requested to be notified when this probe was concluded and the file available. The sheriff was responding to that request when he advised us that the file would be available today. As I understand it, the DA's office notified the family via letter that the case had been concluded. I don't know if the file to be made public today has been given to or even offered to the Granju family for review.

[relentless1]

According to KAG (as of yesterday), it had not.

[kag]

Thanks to everyone for not forgetting my son's case. A few points:

1- both state and federal criminal statutes clearly define my son's official cause of death (by the ME) as homicide. The Sheriff and the DA don't have the right to simply choose to treat one group of legally defined homicide victims differently than others. What if they decided to follow different protocols and do a crummy job when the victim is a prostitute or mentally I'll or undocumented? Given that Henry was the victim of criminal homicide, the closure of his case represents yet another example of this unequal application of the law to him. You don't generally hear of 14 month old homicides of teenagers being "closed."

2- my son was also badly assaulted.

3 - Henry was hospitalized for 5 weeks before his death. During that time, despite our pleas, and even after we let KCSO and the DA know in writing and verbally that Henry wanted very much to give them specific information regarding what he alleged to be a human trafficking for drugs operation in Knox County involving young people, NO ONE FROM KCSO OR THE DA'S OFFICE EVER LAID EYES ON MY SON. That's right, although a KCSO detective was assigned to Henry's case as soon as he was admitted to the ER (unconscious, near death and beaten all to hell), this detective NEVER ONCE met Henry or interviewed him during the 5 weeks he remained alive. However, on the day after Henry died, this detective DID somehow find time to come over to the same hospital to watch my son be autopsied - he was apparently in the room watching and commenting as the victim he never managed to meet was subjected to medical evisceration. How can any investigation where the victim was never interviewed be characterized as anything less than flawed?

4 - For 14 months, Chris and I have pleaded with KCSO to meet with us in person, and to interview us and other family members. We have never once received so much as the courtesy of a response to our phone messages and emails requesting the opportunity to meet with the detective assigned to Henry's case, or the Sheriff. Yes, you read that correctly, in 14 months of an ostensibly open investigation NEITHER HENRY'S FATHER OR I HAS EVER ONCE - NOT ONE SINGLE TIME - BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH ANYONE FROM THE KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. The last time either of us has ANY contact with KCSO was on June 1, 2010 - the day after Henry died - when the detective called Chris to tell him that he'd essentially wrapped things up and that no chargeable crimes had been committed. Similarly, Henry's grandparents, with whom he spent a great deal of time in the last month of his life, and who were the last family members to speak to him on the phone shortly before he climbed in the van with Randall Houser on the evening of April 26, 2010 have never been contacted or interviewed by anyone from KCSO or the DA's Office. How can any investigation where close family members have never been interviewed, and the parents of the teenage victim have been totally denied the chance to even MEET anyone from law enforcement be characterized as anything less than flawed?

5 - As of yesterday, two of the four people who have told me (and have given the same info to reporters ) that they received phone calls from Yolanda Harper between midnight and 11:30 am on April 27 2010 in which she admitted giving him methadone, and described him as blue, purple, bleeding, not breathing, etc had been contacted by KCSO at all. These people told Yolanda to call 911 immediately, and she angrily refused. (Yes, these two people should have called 911 themselves. They did not. But they are important sources of information in establishing how long Harper and Houser refused (not failed but refused) to summon medical help for Henry. The other two witnesses who spoke to Harper over about 30 minutes in the late morning of April 27 are very important. One finally convinced Harper to call 911 by threatening to call the police. The other young woman called 911 herself about 20 minutes or so after the first 911 call was made to report the situation, not realizing that the first young woman had managed by this time to force Harper and Houser to call 911 by that point. The first young woman was only contacted by KCSO for the first time three weeks ago. The detective called her up, told her he'd been unable to find her for the past 13 months (although I gave them the info for her more than once, I spoke to her repeatedly, and two different reporters interviewed her on the record during that time.) The detective's "interview" of her 3 weeks ago consisted of a phone conversation in which she says he didn't really ask her much of anything about what happened that morning. She was so bothered by what he did NOT ask her when he called her that she called him back later that same day to try to give him the relevant information he hadn't asked her about. The second young woman also was never interviewed in person. She was contacted by KCSO several months after Henry's death and asked to meet the detective down at KCSO HQ. When she got there, he was a no-show, so she went home. Some days later, he called her and told her he could just take her info over the phone. The DA tells me that these young women are mischaracterizing their interactions with Harper and Houser because the phone records (one landline and two cells) that the DA looked at belonging to Harper and Houser don't show the calls these young woman describe in the way they describe them. The DA's office told me that my assertion that there are other phones, multiple cell phones that these two active drug dealers were using at that time is not a reasonable assertion, and could not be the case.

6 - Henry's cell phone, which our family managed to retrieve from Harper and Houser a few days after Henry was pulled out of the couple's residence, near death still contains TO THIS DAY more than 100 text messages that detail his interactions with this couple in the weeks leading up to April 27. In the text messages that remain on the phone, Harper texts him multiple times, urging him to keep his mouth shut and to "not tell your mom" about something. He politely promises her that he will not tell anyone her secret, and has not told anyone. There is also a text on the phone from midday on April 26 from Harper to Henry reading "we're driving around Fort Sanders looking for you. where are you?" Highly specific other evidence, including eyewitness identification establishes that this was when Harper and Houser tracked Henry down in Fort Sanders to deliver a massive dose of methadone to him, which he had reservations about taking, but decided to trust Harper when she told him that she knew what a safe amount was because she is a methadone clinic patient. She told him that the 80 mg dose she was urging him to consume was appropriate and safe. Against his better judgment, he took it.

7 - In a taped interview from May of 2011, Harper says that the DA's office had assured her that they believe her story, and that they also told her that they "tried to show Henry's mother phone records to prove to her" that Harper and Houser had not committed any crime. In the same interview, she admits attempting a variety of clumsy "medical interventions" on my son before dialing 911 because she has "a medical background." Harper is a know drug addict and dealer with a lapsed (check the state database for confirmation)license as a Dental Assistant. This is not "a medical background." Two of the specific physical interventions she describes as having performed on my son instead of calling 911 almost certainly contributed to his physical injuries, as well as the severe aspiration pneumonia he was suffering with at hospital admission.

[Rocky Hillian]

I'm not familiar with all the details of this case and this therefore may be a stupid question, but did none of these friends have a cell phone?

I'll try to answer this, although Rikki, HG or kag knows more.

The friends who pleaded with Randall and Yolanda to call 911 did not know where Henry was. He was with Randall and Yolanda and Yolanda used Henry's cell phone to call seemingly random people to say he was in distress. It took Henry's friends threatening calling 911, which they actually did not knowing the location, before Yolanda and Randall called for help. There are multiple 911 calls that were made, and that the family or media have never seen the transcript. Hopefully those will be turned over to kag and Jamie this week.

[Johnny Ringo]

I'll try to answer this, although Rikki, HG or kag knows more.

The friends who pleaded with Randall and Yolanda to call 911 did not know where Henry was. He was with Randall and Yolanda and Yolanda used Henry's cell phone to call seemingly random people to say he was in distress. It took Henry's friends threatening calling 911, which they actually did not knowing the location, before Yolanda and Randall called for help. There are multiple 911 calls that were made, and that the family or media have never seen the transcript. Hopefully those will be turned over to kag and Jamie this week.

Ahh. Not knowing where to send the cops or first responders makes sense. Thanks.

[kag]

Ack! My post was too long, and now it's been cut off and much of what I wrote was eaten and has disappeared. I will try to re-write later today, but I want to be sure to say thank you to Jamie, Satterfield, who has really, really done her homework on the complex issue of what criminal statutes actually say, and on how our own local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors approach and handle overdose injuries and deaths. I, along with other local families of drug- induced homicide victims are very much looking forward to reading the comprehensive investigative piece she's working on when it's published. - kag

[kag]

That's correct. There are, according to witness statements, two 911 calls. One came from Harper and Houser after they were threatened with police involvement if they did not call. And another was made about 20 minutes later by a young woman who didn't know that Harper and Houser had finally been forced via threat to call 911, so she went ahead and called herself. She delayed that long because all she had was Harper's phone number. She had no physical location for Henry and thus (she's a teenager) did not know whether 911 could even find Henry. But she finally called anyway to report the entire situation.

[earlnemo]

Forgive me if I am misreading the facts, but has there been any official statement by the DA as to why Henry's death was not considered to be a homicide?


According to the KCSO the case doesn't constitute a homicide. It is an addict overdose. Not homicide, no investigation, no need to do any work to help fix the illegal prescription drug problem in the community. Oh yeah, it's just easier that way.

IMHO

http://www.wbir.com/pdf/0719granjuletter.pdf


The evidence they are missing is the blood test they did not take, correct? Or would that still not have definitively assigned cause of death?

I hope Jamie's story can answer at least some of the questions about why a lot of witnesses & evidence weren't collected or considered.

[Jamie Satterfield]

Well so far KCSO hasn't released the file so I'm in hold mode at this point.

[Headless Geisha]

I can't speak for other media but KNS long ago requested to be notified when this probe was concluded and the file available. The sheriff was responding to that request when he advised us that the file would be available today. As I understand it, the DA's office notified the family via letter that the case had been concluded. I don't know if the file to be made public today has been given to or even offered to the Granju family for review.

Thanks, Jamie!

I was just curious because, I know for a fact that Katie and Chris had repeatedly asked to speak with investigators and for the case file and have never been acknowledged much less received it. It doesn't make sense to me that the media request would "hold more value" than the family's.

[Rocky Hillian]

Thanks, Jamie!

I was just curious because, I know for a fact that Katie and Chris had repeatedly asked to speak with investigators and for the case file and have never been acknowledged much less received it. It doesn't make sense to me that the media request would "hold more value" than the family's.

Or the fact that the media, I assume this includes Jamie S., was offered the case file before the Granjus. Offered without a stated media request.

[earlnemo]

Or the fact that the media, I assume this includes Jamie S., was offered the case file before the Granjus. Offered without a stated media request.


...


I can't speak for other media but KNS long ago requested to be notified when this probe was concluded and the file available. The sheriff was responding to that request when he advised us that the file would be available today. As I understand it, the DA's office notified the family via letter that the case had been concluded. I don't know if the file to be made public today has been given to or even offered to the Granju family for review.


Not defending. There seems to be plenty in this mess to pick at, and I am gravely disappointed in how my elected officials & public servants have treated the Granju's, on top of apparently bungling the investigation.

[Rocky Hillian]

...




Not defending. There seems to be plenty in this mess to pick at, and I am gravely disappointed in how my elected officials & public servants have treated the Granju's, on top of apparently bungling the investigation.

I read that. It just escaped me, sorry.

[pages]

Apparently KAG and her sister are still at KCSO waiting to get the case file. I spoke to our priest, we go to the same church, a couple of hours ago, and some woman employee at KCSO had told KAG that she should be ashamed of herself. He was going there to wait with her. I sent love and support.

[The Pullet Surprise]

some woman employee at KCSO had told KAG that she should be ashamed of herself.

Wow, the professionalism at that organization runs from top to bottom.

What exactly does she have to be ashamed of?

[earlnemo]

Wow, the professionalism at that organization runs from top to bottom.




Any word from the journalists who were invited to come get the file?

[The Pullet Surprise]

Posted by KAG at j4h --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTFE8IRPUPc

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, et. al. This is horrific.

I thought a Public Information Officer's job included something like providing information or, you know, "informing."

[jmcnair]

Posted by KAG at j4h --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTFE8IRPUPc

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, et. al. This is horrific.

I thought a Public Information Officer's job included something like providing information or, you know, "informing."

Well, not to people on the different side.

[Jamie Satterfield]

I received the file close to 6 pm and did quick interview with Katie. I got back to the office and opened the file to discover tons of stuff that I would have little time to read in its entirety. However, I did review the prosecutor's detailed summary of his conclusions and witness accounts, suspect statements to craft what we call in the biz a "down and dirty," which simply means a broad overview of the conclusions and Katie's description of her treatment today. The story will be posted online at midnight and also will be in tomorrow's paper (help a sister out and buy it). Also online will be the prosecutor's summary. I explain all that to say this: In the coming days I will be reviewing every single document and recording contained in this massive file and hope by next Sunday to have a lengthy and comprehensive account of everything made public today about the case as well as any issues Katie believes were not addressed in the probe. The story tomorrow is accurate and as complete as could be on broad findings. It does not, however, offer detailed accounting of what every witness said and any shortcomings Katie may describe in the days to come as she herself goes through the file. Please feel free to offer any comments about tomorrow's story and any questions you may have of me.

[binR Bishop]

I received the file close to 6 pm and did quick interview with Katie. I got back to the office and opened the file to discover tons of stuff that I would have little time to read in its entirety. However, I did review the prosecutor's detailed summary of his conclusions and witness accounts, suspect statements to craft what we call in the biz a "down and dirty," which simply means a broad overview of the conclusions and Katie's description of her treatment today. The story will be posted online at midnight and also will be in tomorrow's paper (help a sister out and buy it). Also online will be the prosecutor's summary. I explain all that to say this: In the coming days I will be reviewing every single document and recording contained in this massive file and hope by next Sunday to have a lengthy and comprehensive account of everything made public today about the case as well as any issues Katie believes were not addressed in the probe. The story tomorrow is accurate and as complete as could be on broad findings. It does not, however, offer detailed accounting of what every witness said and any shortcomings Katie may describe in the days to come as she herself goes through the file. Please feel free to offer any comments about tomorrow's story and any questions you may have of me.

Jamie, so glad you're working on this.

[binR Bishop]

Posted by KAG at j4h --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTFE8IRPUPc

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, et. al. This is horrific.

I thought a Public Information Officer's job included something like providing information or, you know, "informing."

"We're on different sides." Man, that kind of sums it all up, doesn't it?

P.S. It's 1:45 a.m. and still no sign of Jamie's story on the website. I'm giving up and heading to bed.

[earlnemo]

Jamie, so glad you're working on this.

+1


"We're on different sides." Man, that kind of sums it all up, doesn't it?

+1

[earlnemo]

I received the file close to 6 pm


Did they initially tell you the file would be available earlier? Iirc KAG was under the impression that it would be released at noon. Did they offer any reason as to why they waited until 6pm ?

[Scott]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/22/granju-file-released/

[mgdrum]

I am now waay confused. I thought there were texts on Henry's phone that went back six weeks establishing a relationship with Harper and pal? I also assumed there were numerous texts. Are there only 4 msgs total, or is that what TBI says? It sounds like KCSO got caught with their pants down on this one and are trying to make up for some major mistakes. I still don't understand why none of the 'officials' will meet or speak. Isn't it time that everyone stops using the 'well, this is the South, and that's how we do things/were raised' excuse for anything and everything? (I'm speculating here, but getting this feeling that this might be the mindset of some involved with the case. Change of habits don't seem to be welcomed by many people I've met in this area.)

[swann]

It sounds like KCSO got caught with their pants down on this one and are trying to make up for some major mistakes. I still don't understand why none of the 'officials' will meet or speak.
I think you answered your own question there. They know what a shoddy "investigation" it was and are hoping it will go away. I, for one, hope Katie shoves it down their heartless throats.

[bonghitsforjesus]

After reading the KNS article (and the comments, which are always full of redneck punditry) I keep being struck by the extreme difference in the attitude towards Henry, a kid with an addiction who died in suspicious circumstances and the Christian/Newsom murders. Don't get me wrong, what happened to those kids was evil. But weren't they trying to buy drugs from the people who ended up torturing & murdering them?
Why the huge support for two kids killed in a deal gone bad, but nothing but dismissal for a kid who was himself a victim? Why are some people considered worthy of justice but not others?

[Tess]

There was never any evidence that the Christian/Newsom murders involved drugs. No evidence at all.

[metulj]

There was never any evidence that the Christian/Newsom murders involved drugs. No evidence at all.

Yeah, that means a lot to the discussion of the injustice done toward Henry and his family.

[kag]

After missing an entire day of work yesterday to sit downtown at KCSO to wait for a copy of the case file, I simply can't do anything but focus on my job today. However, Chris and I will be responding to this joke of a file point by point, with documentation, in the days ahead. For now, however, here is our family's public response to the case file released by Randy Nichols and Jimmy "JJ" Jones yesterday: http://justiceforhenry.com/2011/07/our-familys-response-to-the-released-kcso-case-file/

[Tess]

Yeah, that means a lot to the discussion of the injustice done toward Henry and his family.

Probably not, but it was in response to the post above from Bonghitsforjesus which you apparently did not read in your rush to comment.

[Jamie Satterfield]

KCSO initially said it would be released at noon but around 11ish said copying was taking longer than anticipated because of the volume of material. I got the call that it was ready close to 5:30 and had it in hand by 6. As far as other texts, Kevin's summary indicates there were no other texts on which to support a case, but the four in question were, based on phone records, in the time before the overdose and quite long. They appeared to be one conversation strung over four texts from Harper to Henry. That they were deleted was in and of itself suspicious obviously. I haven't read the entirety of the file, as I mentioned earlier, but Kevin's summary indicates that while he thinks there is lots of smoke to buttress claims not only against Harper, Houser, the robber boys and another guy identified as having supplied Henry with roxies, there isn't enough admissible evidence to take it further. However, as i said before, I plan more extensive coverage next weekend and I also am working on a piece that will take direct aim at how overdoses are handled by local and regional law enforcers and how the feds would prefer they be handled.
Make no mistake. Our kids are dying from this opiate epidemic. The question is what can and should we do. No easy answer but certainly this case, whether one camps out on one side or the other or squarely in the middle, certainly is helping to shine a light on the questions.

[bird jam]

Thank you for your insight on this story, Ms. Satterfield.

[metulj]

Probably not, but it was in response to the post above from Bonghitsforjesus which you apparently did not read in your rush to comment.

To which you couldn't help but respond yourself. If you are going to play games, play them. You've been sitting there with your pearls clutched through this whole debacle just waiting to weigh in. A one post poster trying to drag a red herring through the thread and you give it what it wants. Sheesh.

[Tess]

To which you couldn't help but respond yourself. If you are going to play games, play them. You've been sitting there with your pearls clutched through this whole debacle just waiting to weigh in. A one post poster trying to drag a red herring through the thread and you give it what it wants. Sheesh.

You have a problem--and it is not me.

[Jamie Satterfield]

You are welcome. One more thing I didn't have space/time to note in this story: There is also evidence that tends to negate the portrait of Harper and Houser as peddling opiates. The two girls who spoke with her on the day Henry was found both said she grilled them on what drugs Henry had taken. The roxie dealer described an incident in May before Henry's death in which Harper lured him to a parking lot as if to do a pill deal and instead Houser poised as a FBI agent and warned him against dealing. So while there certainly is room to criticize this or any probe (none are ever straight-up brilliant and flawless) my quick read of the file certainly reveals legitimate worries for the prosecution in mounting a case. I am not taking sides at all here and am still examining the case file and Katie's concerns with it and once I'm done, you'll see the entirety of it, I hope, laid out for your own decision-making. But I did want to offer up a few more details on Kevin's reasonings not fully covered in today's story. You can read his summary online. Unfortunately I had to redact the witness summaries entirely because I did not have time to selectively redact identifying information such as dates of birth, social security numbers etc... I hope to do that for the weekend piece so readers can hear for themselves the various witness acccounts.

[Rocky Hillian]

My initial question is this:

The 911 calls were made for Henry in medical distress over drugs ingested. Why was Investigator Hall looking at the assault and not securing evidence to the drugs in Henry's system? At that point he had know idea what happened. Securing that blood evidence could have been an important step in the investigation of the assault, and the eventual prosecution of Overdose homicide.

Investigator Hall screwed up there. The KCSO needs to admit that first and foremost.

[metulj]

You have a problem--and it is not me.

Pearls. Clutched. I suggest you stick to talking about chickens rather than rising to bait. Get it?

[Rocky Hillian]

Pearls. Clutched. I suggest you stick to talking about chickens rather than rising to bait. Get it?

Dude, you need to let go of whatever perceived grudge you have.

[earlnemo]

Dude, you need to let go of whatever perceived grudge you have.


+1

[pages]

Pearls. Clutched. I suggest you stick to talking about chickens rather than rising to bait. Get it?

metulj: Get over it.

I haven't gone and counted every post Tess has made on this issue. However, the first thing I thought of when I read the post she was responding to was that no one every proved that drugs were a factor in the Christian/Newsom case. The only reason I didn't post something immediately was because Tess had posted the information, and I don't see any reason for repetition.

Personally, I'd rather see this thread focusing on a fair, unbiased discussion about the inadequacies of the investigation into Henry Granju's death. There's plenty of fodder there without taking potshots at one another about a different case.

[kag]

You are welcome. One more thing I didn't have space/time to note in this story: There is also evidence that tends to negate the portrait of Harper and Houser as peddling opiates. The two girls who spoke with her on the day Henry was found both said she grilled them on what drugs Henry had taken. The roxie dealer described an incident in May before Henry's death in which Harper lured him to a parking lot as if to do a pill deal and instead Houser poised as a FBI agent and warned him against dealing. So while there certainly is room to criticize this or any probe (none are ever straight-up brilliant and flawless) my quick read of the file certainly reveals legitimate worries for the prosecution in mounting a case. I am not taking sides at all here and am still examining the case file and Katie's concerns with it and once I'm done, you'll see the entirety of it, I hope, laid out for your own decision-making. But I did want to offer up a few more details on Kevin's reasonings not fully covered in today's story. You can read his summary online. Unfortunately I had to redact the witness summaries entirely because I did not have time to selectively redact identifying information such as dates of birth, social security numbers etc... I hope to do that for the weekend piece so readers can hear for themselves the various witness acccounts.

I look forward to having the time to publicly respond point by point to the case file released yesterday, which even on my cursory first read is alarming in the scope of its half truths, lies of omissions, outright untruths, and it's revelation of shoddy investigation techniques. I have already been contacted by one of the witnesses whose interview is related in the released case file to say that's not what she told KCSO, and that she's totally shocked by what they say she told them. Responding with documentation in the deliberate, clear way I intend to do it will take time, so I don't want to do it 'til I can carve out the time to do it right. -

Katie

[The Pullet Surprise]

I look forward to having the time to publicly respond point by point to the case file released yesterday, which even on my cursory first read is alarming in the scope of its half truths, lies of omissions, outright untruths, and it's revelation of shoddy investigation techniques. I have already been contacted by one of the witnesses whose interview is related in the released case file to say that's not what she told KCSO, and that she's totally shocked by what they say she told them. Responding with documentation in the deliberate, clear way I intend to do it will take time, so I don't want to do it 'til I can carve out the time to do it right. -

Katie

Your wit needs to get with your attorney and put that in an affidavit. Maybe now that they've closed the book on this shitty investigation, they can open the book on an actual one.

Strength to you. Look forward to your response.

[Lee G]

Strength to you. Look forward to your response.

Yes, this.

[trancendyce]

Thanks to everyone for not forgetting my son's case.

don't have much to add except to say, i'm so sorry for what y'all are having to go through.

[Headless Geisha]

It makes me so sad that the compassion commenters felt about Aaron Douglas's death doesn't apply in this case because it wasn't a football player. I do not get it.

[Jamie Satterfield]

I look forward to having the time to publicly respond point by point to the case file released yesterday, which even on my cursory first read is alarming in the scope of its half truths, lies of omissions, outright untruths, and it's revelation of shoddy investigation techniques. I have already been contacted by one of the witnesses whose interview is related in the released case file to say that's not what she told KCSO, and that she's totally shocked by what they say she told them. Responding with documentation in the deliberate, clear way I intend to do it will take time, so I don't want to do it 'til I can carve out the time to do it right. -

Katie

The file contains the audio of the witness interviews in addition to the summaries. I have not had time to even crack the audio file so I don't know if the audiotaped statement of the witness you reference is included, but you might want to check.

[Rocky Hillian]

Something didn't sit right with me about the timeline when I browsed the Summary report.

Henry's cell phone pings put him in the Tarklin valley area at 7:17pm on the 26. This puts Henry at the residence for ~16 hours before the ambulance reaches him. The Summary states: "The ME told us the drugs on which HLG overdosed could have been taken anywhere from 2-12 hours prior to him being found unresponsive."

2-12 hours is all within the time Henry (at least his cell phone) was at the residence in Tarklin valley.

How does the DA or KCSO rectify this?

[spinetingler]

How does the DA or KCSO pull shit out of their rectum

fixed

[earlnemo]

Cleveland man charged with murder in pill overdose death. (http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/22/cleveland-man-charged-murder-pill-overdose-death/?breakingnews) (via KNS)


Also note 3 others in the residence were also charged.

[Bbeanster]

There is a credible witness who will testify that he and some friends drove Henry out to the BiLo Market to meet R after having half-price sushi at Nama the night before he was taken to the hospital. He will say that Henry seemed very messed up. There is eye-witness corroboration, and there are texts from Y saying "we are looking for you in Ft. Sanders" early that afternoon. Another witness (or maybe 2) will testify that Henry went out to a van exactly like R's and when he came back, he said they gave him methadone for his bad headache (a result of the beating). Too much, he feared.
Also, who came up with the premise that Yolanda, who says she has a medical background, needed a teenager she didn't even know to tell her to call 911 when Henry was puking and convulsing on her floor? The detectives believe he started puking, convulsing and turning blue at the moment Y started making those calls?


Something didn't sit right with me about the timeline when I browsed the Summary report.

Henry's cell phone pings put him in the Tarklin valley area at 7:17pm on the 26. This puts Henry at the residence for ~16 hours before the ambulance reaches him. The Summary states: "The ME told us the drugs on which HLG overdosed could have been taken anywhere from 2-12 hours prior to him being found unresponsive."

2-12 hours is all within the time Henry (at least his cell phone) was at the residence in Tarklin valley.

How does the DA or KCSO rectify this?

[Rocky Hillian]

I am not questioning what happened prior to Randall and Yolanda picking Henry up. I just think that there is a big discrepancy here that should not be overlooked. If Henry's overdose occurred within 2-12 hours prior to receiving medical treatment, he must have been with Randall and Yolanda when he took the overdose. This would be two large doses in less than 12-16 hours.

KCSO needs to rectify this timeline before closing the case.

[Bbeanster]

I'm not disputing you, RH. Just pointing out that there is a lot of evidence that Henry took a big dose 7-8 hours before landing at Tarklin Valley Road, and that there is evidence re where he got it. That doesn't mean he didn't get more once he got out there.
The more interesting question is how Henry got so beat up looking (as described by the ER docs). He wasn't showing visible bruises the night before when he was delivered to the BiLo.

[Jamie Satterfield]

Actually some of the witnesses who saw Henry before Nama and at Nama described bruising around his eyes. Some thought it was a beating injury; others thought it was from drug binge. ME opined bruising around eyes and blood coming from ears was related to overdose. I believe Katie has alleged other injuries to his body and I haven't read enough of the complete file yet to address those.

[kag]

Actually some of the witnesses who saw Henry before Nama and at Nama described bruising around his eyes. Some thought it was a beating injury; others thought it was from drug binge. ME opined bruising around eyes and blood coming from ears was related to overdose. I believe Katie has alleged other injuries to his body and I haven't read enough of the complete file yet to address those.

I've yet to so much as crack the file, but if the ME is claiming that OVERDOSE caused the physical trauma noted extensively, clearly and repeatedly in his medical record by multiple UT Medical Center physicians, including the cardiologist,ENT and other trauma specialists whose consult notes are in his medical records, then I am floored. She certainly never noted that in the autopsy, nor did she ever suggest such a thing in extensive written communications with me. Henry's medical records from UTMC are clear and unequivocal. In addition to suffering an overdose, he was beat all to hell. The idea that this is considered a matter of debate by the
anyone in the media makes me feel as if I've fallen down Alice's rabbit hole. Henry's complete medical records are available at UT Medical Center. I encourage journalists reporting this story to fact check by pulling those records and speaking to the physicians who treated my boy. Interview his father, aunts and uncles and grandparents about the extensive bruising and bleeding. And sadly, I must recommend to my Knoxblab friends that if any of you ever finds yourself in the unhappy situation where one of your children is the victim of violent crime, you should take the photos and video of visible injuries that Chris and I did not, because we never imagined we needed to. Plus, we were pretty busy wiping Away the blood that ran from both of Henry's ears for 2 weeks straight ...

[kag]

Must. Stop. Reading. This. Thread.

:-(

[Bbeanster]

Actually some of the witnesses who saw Henry before Nama and at Nama described bruising around his eyes. Some thought it was a beating injury; others thought it was from drug binge. ME opined bruising around eyes and blood coming from ears was related to overdose. I believe Katie has alleged other injuries to his body and I haven't read enough of the complete file yet to address those.

Here's what one of the people with whom Henry spent the night of the 25th and the first half of the 26th said:

#####Didn’t see any signs of being beaten up, not that I remember

it was me, my BF and Henry

(two other kid) left

Henry says he’s going to runout for a minute and he’ll be right back

I go out to sit on the patio and smoke a cig

I see this van pull up a
Saw H get out of the back

He came up to the apt, ran back out, said something to the woman and the man in this big ugly old van

Said something to them and they drove away

H came came back inside and asked me and my BF if we ever heard anything about methadone??

I said it was a drug to help wean u off drugs

He told me that these two ppl had been really nice to him, wanted to adopt him, have him sell drugs

He said Y had given him 80 mgs of methadone
Told him it would get rid of his headache and still get him high
Because he had a high opiate tolerance
Just like her
She said that’s how much she takes.
He used her name
When he told us that, I said I never heard of anyone taking doses that big

Erowid.com—a drug database center

He went online to look up Methodone

He said oh my gosh, it says ppl only take 10-15 Mgs if they’re trying to get messed up

She gave me 80.

He seemed a little bit shocked and surprised..

He closed the computer, hung out w us a couple more minutes, told us he was feeling it.

Left my apt and that’s the last time I saw him

Forrest Ave in Ft Sanders..

Absolutely no doubt that it was them

He specifically told us it was a man and a woman and they wanted to adopt him and give him drugs to sell. He trusted them.

He seemed really grateful that these ppl were helping him out. In that twisted way, in his mind he thought it was something that would really work out for him, get him back on his feet…
Parents – they weren’t going to enable him in any way, give him money or let him stay.. He wanted to live the lifestyle he wanted to live, whether his fam was OK w it or not.

Henry’s really the first that was someone I act knew…

Detectives?

They contacted E, she said they’re going to be contacting you

When Katie called them they said I told them I wouldn’t talk unless I was in contact w my lawyer

Just talked to a dect about a month ago.

Took me and my bf down in the basement of the PD
Took notes on yellow pad

[Bbeanster]

*******************He was trying to enforce the idea that H didn’t die of an OD of meth, but he had a lot of drugs in his system and it was his own fault..

Dect of major crimes – September

My BF got interviewed by him too, and he had the same conclusion


(She says she wasn't asked about what happened earlier on the 26th)

I figured they had the info they needed and nothing I had to say really mattered.

I know it was a middle aged man and woman and I saw the van

He said that’s who it was…



They didn’t question me until so long afterward… he was asking me detailed questions, like what time did that happen?? I had no idea, it had been so long.

(She was asked if she thinks the detective made a good faith effort to get to the truth?)

No. They didn’t even call me.
They spoke to E, (soon after the events) but she didn’t know anything about what happ to H that day.

I know I’m not an expert or anything, but he was coherent that morning. He was complaining of a headache.
He was helping me clean.
If youre about to drop dead of a concussion, you’re not going to help

And very coherent.
Not confused.

He didnt tell us he was getting Meth
He just said I’ll be right back

When he came back he said they’d already given him meth

After that he was just like, Bye guys, see u later
Me and S didn’t really think anything of it.

Seemed like a lot, but I didn’t know anything about methadone, so even though erowidd said it was a lot, thought he would be OK..

It’s just a terrible story. I guess I just don’t understand why these ppl aren’t being prosecuted or punished for doing this.

Even if they tried to get away w the fact that he was 18 or something, he was bleeding out of his eyes and his ears and lying in a puddle of vomit…

[Jamie Satterfield]

Because I haven't fully reviewed the file and because I am still working on a weekend story for next weekend and a overdose investigative protocol story for later this summer, I'm going to do what I should have done from the get-go and go silent. I was just trying to offer clarification when I could based on what I had seen thus far in the file. Condolences to the Granju family and all those parents who have suffered the loss of a child.

[Bbeanster]

I may as well lay some other stuff out here. I spent a lot of time on this story before I had to give it up. These are verbatim notes from an interview with the boy who took Henry to the BiLo. He was a classmate of Henry's at Laurel School:

I was at Laurel
It was end of the day

I’ll come by to use computers, talk to teachers

Gone to store to get a pack of cigs

We were talking about half price sushi at nama

I went to the store, came back and H was there

He decided he wanted to go eat w us

Four ppl counting H

Went to nama

He seemed pretty normal, wasn’t paying too much attention. Had no idea I was going to have to remember all this

He seemed kinda in a daze

He’d had a rough night the night before…

He seemed a little sluggish and slow

Got to Nama, sat down,,, he was eating and trying to talk to waitress, falling asleep

Face in plate

I got done eating, went out to smoke a cig

He came out

He was standing and wobbling

Speech slurred

At that point I could tell that he was messed u[p

He and L had gotten together, went to bellbuckle to try to get clean. He came back and they were both clean.

I’d stopped seeing him as much. He was spending more time w L

She went to jail

That was around the time when he started doing pills again

While we were eating he was telling us about those R and Y people… said they were trying to get him off opiates, she was sharing her methadone with him
He was doing landscaping work for them and staying there..

It was about 4- 4:30

Stayed 45 min or an hour

He said that’s where he needed to go…

By the time we were ready to leave H had to be helped to the car

As soon as he sat down he fell asleep

This is the part I have a lot of trouble with

We were the ones who gave him a ride…

We didn’t know what else to do… he had said that was who he deeded to go see…

I cant rem what we did after we dropped him off, but we were going to do something,,,

He went thru his phone, showed us the number of who he needed to call, the lady Y

I called the number, and R answered

I said hey do u know H, he’s staying w you. We went to eat. He needs someone to look out for him

R-- “Yeah, I know H. he’s been staying with us.”

He didn’t tell me where they live, he told me he could get him from the BiLo on john sevier..
I took him out there… he was asleep
I got a really weird feeling about it after I got off the phone.

Didn’t know if I should take him out there, but didn’t know what else to do

We were there a couple mins this van pulled up

An older astro van, captains chairs in the back… box van

Gray

Had some sort of design on the side… some kind of design

Just that R guy… (no Y)

I got out of the car, went over to the driver’s side.

Was going to ask him are u going to look out for H??

He saw me walk up and he was on the tele….he kind of dodged around talking to me. I felt weird about it.
it was not good.
We got H up, said can u get to the car… he said yeahhhhh…

The whole time the guy’s on the phone talking to somebody

I got H in the car.. when he knew he had to move he was able to. But he wouldn’t have been able to go walk down the street. I shook his hand and told him to give me a call later. Told him to be safe and he thanked me for giving him a ride…

As we started to pull out, R jumped out of his car, gave us $5 and said thanks for bringing H…

(When we left) I said I don’t feel good about that. Anybody else feeling like that?

They said yes.
But that’s what H wanted to do.


That’s what’s stayed w/me more than anything else

WB—when H was still in hosp before he died. Was at W’s house, really close to the bilo

We were talking about it

I broke down and started crying


I told him I felt like I took to where he died. We just talked and he tried to tell me not to feel that way
I understand there’s no way I could’ve known that
It’s really hard

I see him one day and the next day I hear that he’s in the hosp in a coma. That’s not something you want for a friend. That’s not even something u want for somebody u don’t even like
It’s horrible

[Bbeanster]

And here's one more: This is Henry's girlfriend's mom, who probably got the first call from Y on 4/27. It was to her landline and she doesn't remember exactly what time, except it was early, Woke her up. She knew Y, who had worked in a family member's office earlier that year:


"She’d had my #, and she called … She was in a rage

Very upset

They had tried to help this kid out

He had come over here all beat up

I believe she did mention they gave him some methodone

Let him go to sleep

She said she made pancakes, like some Norman Rockwell… (heavy sarcasm)

She said he was beaten up

“Why didn’t u call 911 right then?”

she said she didn’t know what to do

said she wasn’t going to be blamed for it, didn’t know how he’d gotten that way

lips were blue, bleeding out of a lot of orifices

I said you’ve got to call 911

She kept rambling on about how they were just trying to be good ppl

Said something about L

Said they met because of L

How in the world they ran up on these two

Don’t know SA (evidently the second person Y called)

Y told SA I got your number off Henry’s phone and called

(What time was phonecall?)

It was early of the morning…

Started off the day

Know he was still there (when she called)

[Bbeanster]

OK, another:
This is SA, another person Y called that morning:

I got a call from that woman, Y.
Was going to my school to get my transcripts that morning

Get a call from this woman—who is this?
She started cussing.

Y: “What did Henry do last night? You’re the last number on his phone …
He’s laying here. His eyes are black and blue, throwing up on himself..’s hardly breathing…

SA: I don’t know how to explain this to you, but I didn’t see him. You need to call an ambulance.
She kept cussing and cussing at me. “I’m not taking him anywhere… “
she hung up on me around that time


That’s when I started freaking out, (called back)

SA to Yo – “I really seriously think u need to take him to a hosp…”


I called the only other person I knew who knew him

I Called MD --

M said I’ll call her. I’ll call u back


Later, M calls me back

Said “She just kept cussing at me…. Basically had the same conversation… said she hung on her too


That woman called me back one more time and we just kept arguing

I called 911

Around 11 am, around there

(between 10 30 and 11 30)

*after I called Melissa, Yo called me back one more time

I heard man’s voice in background. Telling her to calm down

That’s when I called 911

“I have no idea what’s going on. My friend’s overdosing’

gave 911 the phone number

they said they’d do what they could

911 op did call me back

she said we found that address and said either we’re sending an amb or an amb has been sent

I waited about an hour, started going to all the hosps… went to baptist, then park west, then M called me and said he was at UT

Went straight to the hosp and sat with the family…

[earlnemo]

Were any of these phone-call people interviewed, and the phone records corroborated to establish an time-line for this?

[Bbeanster]

NOTE: This interview was in early fall (late Sept or early Oct): This girl was trying hard to cooperate with KCSO.

Talked to Dect hall
Been trying to meet him for past 2 weeks, I drive all the way downtown , pay to park and he’s not able to talk to me. Later he called me over the phone.

Couple days after Henry died, got a voice mail from Dect Hall. He tried to contact me about it.

The first day he went to hosp, police officers came,
I felt so out of place, didn’t know any of these people.

Told police about this woman that called me and I told them everything I knew…
Henry got jumped…

Jacob Stooksbury def jumped him

They locked him in the car and tree of them beat him until he was basically unconscious…

They were prob trying to rob him or H prob tried to rob them before and they were getting him back
That’s what pills does to ppl

Henry was really polite, really super sweet and really nice

He just did pills.

A sweet guy

He gave me his last cigarette…

He gave me gas money for driving him around.
Him and Matt seemed really really nice.. I was excited to meet him…

Had intentions of trying to help him get off pills…

Died?
Completely dumbfounded. ]
Thought God I hope he doesn’t have brain damage the rst of his life. Called my mom imm to confirm it…

All my other friends have died, wasn’t anything new..

Oxys, Roxys, zanax,
Now opana – new drug
An opiate with benzos—anxiety and pain medication in one…

[Bbeanster]

yes, they were eventually all interviewed, I think. Some of them not until months later.

[Scott Barker]

Were any of these phone-call people interviewed, and the phone records corroborated to establish an time-line for this?

If you read the investigator's summary, there is a time-line of the phone call records. I haven't reviewed the entire file, but it seems from the summary that those people were interviewed. Many, if not all of them, are on tape and were released as part of the file. Jamie is culling through all the information and will be writing an article based on all the information in hand.

[Bbeanster]

It is my understanding that at least one of the phonecalls was left out of the record that was released. An oversight.

[Scott Barker]

Maybe so. I was just responding to earlnemo based on the summary. Jamie's going through all the recordings and records, which I'm sure will take a few days.

[kag]

Scott:

Betty is correct. One 911 call made on the morning of April 27, 2010 and directly related to Henry's case is apparently entirely absent from the case file that KCSO released this week. Again, I've yet to open the file (I can't do it til I have several hours of uninterrupted time free from kids, my job, and the second part time freelance job I work to pay our bills, and I haven't had that time yet after missing two days of work this week to deal with this mess), but I am told by those who have that the second 911 call is missing. To reiterate, I have NOT confirmed this for myself, so this information may not be accurate. The second call may be in the file. But if it isn't, that's certainly problematic.

However, what I want to say to you, Scott, and to any journalist covering this story is this: given that our family strongly disputes the accuracy, truthfulness and quality of the investigative work done on my son's case, as well as the way KCSO and the DA have spun the work they did do to the public, I would hope and expect that journalists will approach the contents of that case file with total skepticism. Do not assume that just because something is noted as fact in the file, that it is fact. Do not assume that the material in that file fully informs the case. For example, if you are seeing one set of phone records, that does not mean that the suspects did not regularly also use another phone with records that are NOT included. If the Asst DA says it's the hospital's fault that blood evidence from Henry's hospital admission was not preserved, please call the hospital's corporate counsel or communications person and ask if the hospital was to blame or whether the KCSO investigator who was in the ER that day should have alerted the hospital that the patient was the victim of an open criminal investigation, and thus, all evidence would need to be preserved via specific protocols that would include chain of custody maintenance. If Detective Hall states as fact that my mother, Sue Allison, the recently retired PIO for the Tennessee Supreme Court "turned away" a KCSO investigator when he came to interview Henry, please speak directly with Sue Allison to ask her if she agrees with this statement by Detective Hall. If the Assistant DA states as fact what elements are required to build a successful second degree homicide/drug-induced homicide indictment, do not accept this as fact without speaking to a prosecutor or two in other jurisdictions who has experience in these cases (Knox County prosecutors have done ONE true drug induced homicide case in the past decade, as far as I can determine). Please look at the running list of arrests and prosecutions from around the country in cases like Henry's that I maintain at JusticeForHenry.com to learn how many ways there are to develop and prosecute these cases when someone cares enough to try. Please read this article from the FBI (http://www2.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2009/april2009/overdose.htm) instructing local law enforcement how to handle overdose crime scenes and investigations in order to develop cases, and compare that to the way Henry's case was handled. Read Henry's actual medical records and interview the physicians and nurses at UTMC who treated the initial physical trauma he had at ER admission, along with the overdose related injuries to his brain, lungs and heart. Ask hard questions about Yolanda Harper's statement in the 911 call she made that she administered Narcan to Henry. This is a HUGELY alarming piece of information that should lead to some very tough, specific questions for law enforcement regarding the way this case was handled on the scene and after.

Etc, etc, etc Basically, I am asking that any journalist who covers this story be the hard-nosed, fact-checking, source-developing skeptic that this case asks you to be in reporting it in a thorough, unbiased way. And journalists should treat MY claims and documentation equally skeptically. Journalists should assume I am a nutjob liar, and carefully fact check anything I say or provide in the way of documentation with a third party expert or source.

That's how this story should be covered. And I hope that's how it will be covered.

Best regards, Katie

[rikki]

The more interesting question is how Henry got so beat up looking (as described by the ER docs). He wasn't showing visible bruises the night before when he was delivered to the BiLo.

I believe bruising from a concussion can take a couple of days to form.

[kag]

I believe bruising from a concussion can take a couple of days to form.

In Henry's ER admission medical records, as well as the consult notes from specialists in his records for the first week of his 5 week hospitalization, it is noted again and again by multiple physicians that Henry was displaying classic, full-on "Battle's Sign." I hope journalists will read the actual medical records for themselves, and then research exactly what "Battle's Sign" is, and bout becomes physically manifest, and on what timeline.

[Linzi]

On the most basic level - forget addiction history and beatings and poor associations and whatever else - Henry's death, officially, was the result of brain injuries from an overdose of drugs that were illegally distributed to him, right? It is very clear (to me) that cases like this are prosecutable as homicides. So, what is the problem with going after the people who illegally distributed these drugs to Henry? The shady older couple told the investigators that they'd just met Henry, but his phone records indicate that to be a lie. Doesn't that raise a giant, flaming red flag for KCSO? It sure would for me. But, it doesn't seem like KCSO ever even gave that vein a second look.

I find it extremely frustrating that doing the work to piece this together and research precedents has become Katie's cross to bear in what must be the most unimaginable period of her life.

[faybe]

the part that kind of seems screwy to me is that the report claims they had 3 witnesses, not 1, but 3 say that Yolanda Harper admitted to them that she did give Henry methadone. Yet b/c these witnesses have credibility issues they don't feel like they can pursue prosecution.

[t3p]

the part that kind of seems screwy to me is that the report claims they had 3 witnesses, not 1, but 3 say that Yolanda Harper admitted to them that she did give Henry methadone. Yet b/c these witnesses have credibility issues they don't feel like they can pursue prosecution.

might also have hearsay admissibility issues here, but i don't know

prayers for the family

[lovelyqueenmelissa]

Katie, this is my first time stating this on the Blab ... I am very sick of what happened to Henry, and very sorry for him, and his entire family, and friends that have been affected by this incident.

I have told one or two others, and I will tell you ... in my free time ... if you need anything, contact me, and I will do whatever you think I could do to help out. I like doing, and seeing things 100% of the way through.

Regards,

CT

I feel the same way, Katie. I support you totally. This could be anyone of our children. I appreciate all you are doing to make the world a better place for all of us. Peace and love.

[Scott Barker]

Thanks for the professional advice, kag, but I must remind you that Jamie is covering the story for us, not me. I have only seen the summary and don't pretend to know details of whatever else is in the investigative file. I did look up the FBI's suggested protocols to which you linked. They are designed for incidents in which the officers arrive at a scene to find a dead overdose victim. That didn't apply in Henry's case. He was alive when he left the scene. Also, at the time KCSO was operating under the belief that Henry had been injured in an assault. The crime scene for that was, if I recall correctly, the BiLo, not the house where he OD'd.

One thing I'd like to clear up for everyone is that KCSO did not extend an unsolicited invitation to KNS for the release of the investigative file. We had a standing public records request for the file and all they did was notify us when they would be fulfilling that request.

[Bbeanster]

Wouldn't it have been smart to give the family a heads-up and a day's headstart when releasing this file, given the sensitive relationship that has evolved in this situation? Nichols could have sent them the letter and the file and released it to the rest of us 24 or 48 hours later. Maybe even have met with them as he offered to do in the letter. There are a lot of ways he and JJ could have avoided most of this ugliness with a little commonsense and courtesy.

[kag]

Thanks for the professional advice, kag, but I must remind you that Jamie is covering the story for us, not me. I have only seen the summary and don't pretend to know details of whatever else is in the investigative file. I did look up the FBI's suggested protocols to which you linked. They are designed for incidents in which the officers arrive at a scene to find a dead overdose victim. That didn't apply in Henry's case. He was alive when he left the scene. Also, at the time KCSO was operating under the belief that Henry had been injured in an assault. The crime scene for that was, if I recall correctly, the BiLo, not the house where he OD'd.

One thing I'd like to clear up for everyone is that KCSO did not extend an unsolicited invitation to KNS for the release of the investigative file. We had a standing public records request for the file and all they did was notify us when they would be fulfilling that request.

You know Scott, maybe it's the hellish week I've had, but basically, I've kind of had it with your bizarrely nasty bias in discussing this story here and elsewhere, and I feel unwilling this evening to let your snarky ugliness, yes UGLINESS pass without commenting.

"Thanks for the professional advice kag"...

WHAT THE HELL?

Look "Scott Barker" (if you plan to address me by my knoxblab login name rather than via my actual name, I guess the polite thing is for me to do the same), in my opionion, no one editing or reporting an actual news story should be offering editorial commentary on it on a local message board at all. I am shocked that you do this on a regular basis, and I cannot fathom that E.W. Scripps' newspaper management is okay with this. But since you do, and since you've decided to actively engage with the subject of your news reporting - me and the rest of Henry Granju's heartbroken family - you need to get your facts straight.

It appears to me that your comment above serves as rationalization and/or apology for the terrible job KCSO did on the scene and in the days immediately following my adored teenage boy being pulled half dead and beaten all to hell from the home of two known drug dealers. Again, the fact that you are commenting here at all on this topic, given that you and the reporters who work with you on this story are ostensibly covering this story in an objective way, is appalling. You should not be actively engaging the subject of your reporting in how you believe she's mistaken on a local discussion board. Save it for your reporting or editing. I might have personally supported one candidate over another when I was employed by E.W. Scripps or WBIR, but you can be damn sure I wasn't arguing with Bob Corker supporters at KnoxBlab during that period, no matter how wrong I thought something a Corker supporter posted might be.

But back to the point at hand; in fact, what Todd Prough says about investigation of non-fatal overdose cases in the FBI training material to which I linked is this:

The Len Bias Law provides for the same punishment if death or serious bodily injury occurs as a result of the drugs.10 Federal law defines serious bodily injury as that which involves, “a substantial risk of death; protracted and obvious disfigurement; or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.”11 If the victim suffers a drug overdose but does not die, investigators should consult with their prosecutor to determine if the overdose falls within the definition of serious bodily injury.12

Scott, if you want to go head to head regarding any aspect of this issue with me here at KnoxBlab, BRING IT ON. Seriously, don't half ass it. If you want to debate the mother of the dead kid, don't hang back and pop in and out with biased, uninformed junk. Let's have this discussion fully. Because I am sick of KNS staffers posting commentary at KnoxBlab and KnoxViews about my child, me and this case, and then pretending not to have bias in the reporting taking place in the actual newspaper.

So pick which way you want to have it, and if you want to offer commentary here, be ready to go toe to toe with me. I am willing and able to do that. Not only is this topic deeply, deeply personal to me for obvious reasons, I have spent the past 14 months immersing myself in the statutory and caselaw pertaining to how states and federal authorities approach, investigate and prosecute these cases, and if you want to debate, let's go.

But for the sake of American journalism, and local journalism, I hope you reconsider altogether what you and other KNS newsroom staffers have been doing on this local message board and others, because your backchannel commentary on various news stories you are suppposed to be reporting and editing without bias is disturbing in about 50 different ways, and it's time someone in this community called the KNS on it.

-Katie Allison Granju
Knoxville, TN

[kag]

FYI - our family has had a "standing request" ( whatever the hell that means, per Scott Barker's statement), in writing for the past 14 months to meet withe ANYONE at all employed by KCSO to discuss my child's case, and neither Chris nor I has ever received so much as the courtesy of a response to our pleas. On Thursday, when KCSO PIO Martha Dooley fussed at me til I broke down in tears in the KCSO waiting room, that represented the wry first time ever in 14 months that Chris or I had ever had face to face contact with any employee of the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

[Scott Barker]

Wouldn't it have been smart to give the family a heads-up and a day's headstart when releasing this file, given the sensitive relationship that has evolved in this situation? Nichols could have sent them the letter and the file and released it to the rest of us 24 or 48 hours later. Maybe even have met with them as he offered to do in the letter. There are a lot of ways he and JJ could have avoided most of this ugliness with a little commonsense and courtesy.

Yes. I never said anything about the way the authorities handled the matter with the family. I just said that they released the file to the media because of a standing public records request.

[Scott Barker]

You know Scott, maybe it's the hellish week I've had, but basically, I've kind of had it with your bizarrely nasty bias in discussing this story here and elsewhere, and I feel unwilling this evening to let your snarky ugliness, yes UGLINESS pass without commenting.

"Thanks for the professional advice kag"...

WHAT THE HELL?

Look "Scott Barker" (if you plan to address me by my knoxblab login name rather than via my actual name, I guess the polite thing is for me to do the same), in my opionion, no one editing or reporting an actual news story should be offering editorial commentary on it on a local message board at all. I am shocked that you do this on a regular basis, and I cannot fathom that E.W. Scripps' newspaper management is okay with this. But since you do, and since you've decided to actively engage with the subject of your news reporting - me and the rest of Henry Granju's heartbroken family - you need to get your facts straight.

It appears to me that your comment above serves as rationalization and/or apology for the terrible job KCSO did on the scene and in the days immediately following my adored teenage boy being pulled half dead and beaten all to hell from the home of two known drug dealers. Again, the fact that you are commenting here at all on this topic, given that you and the reporters who work with you on this story are ostensibly covering this story in an objective way, is appalling. You should not be actively engaging the subject of your reporting in how you believe she's mistaken on a local discussion board. Save it for your reporting or editing. I might have personally supported one candidate over another when I was employed by E.W. Scripps or WBIR, but you can be damn sure I wasn't arguing with Bob Corker supporters at KnoxBlab during that period, no matter how wrong I thought something a Corker supporter posted might be.

But back to the point at hand; in fact, what Todd Prough says about investigation of non-fatal overdose cases in the FBI training material to which I linked is this:

The Len Bias Law provides for the same punishment if death or serious bodily injury occurs as a result of the drugs.10 Federal law defines serious bodily injury as that which involves, “a substantial risk of death; protracted and obvious disfigurement; or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.”11 If the victim suffers a drug overdose but does not die, investigators should consult with their prosecutor to determine if the overdose falls within the definition of serious bodily injury.12

Scott, if you want to go head to head regarding any aspect of this issue with me here at KnoxBlab, BRING IT ON. Seriously, don't half ass it. If you want to debate the mother of the dead kid, don't hang back and pop in and out with biased, uninformed junk. Let's have this discussion fully. Because I am sick of KNS staffers posting commentary at KnoxBlab and KnoxViews about my child, me and this case, and then pretending not to have bias in the reporting taking place in the actual newspaper.

So pick which way you want to have it, and if you want to offer commentary here, be ready to go toe to toe with me. I am willing and able to do that. Not only is this topic deeply, deeply personal to me for obvious reasons, I have spent the past 14 months immersing myself in the statutory and caselaw pertaining to how states and federal authorities approach, investigate and prosecute these cases, and if you want to debate, let's go.

But for the sake of American journalism, and local journalism, I hope you reconsider altogether what you and other KNS newsroom staffers have been doing on this local message board and others, because your backchannel commentary on various news stories you are suppposed to be reporting and editing without bias is disturbing in about 50 different ways, and it's time someone in this community called the KNS on it.

-Katie Allison Granju
Knoxville, TN


I address people here by their screen names because I respect the conventions of the Blab. I happen to use my real name. Others don't, and I respect that.

I don't have anything to do with the reporting or editing of news articles about your son. I'm not in the newsroom and have no authority to direct coverage either before or after the fact. I post here with the approval of KNS management.

I'm the editorial page editor. In our only editorial on this incident, we wrote that we support your civil lawsuit as the only way the issues surrounding Henry's death would get a full public hearing in the event that no criminal charges were filed. Authorities have said they won't seek criminal charges. We still support your using the civil courts as a way to air all the issues surrounding Henry's death.

I'm also not arguing about the investigation. Jamie Satterfield is looking into the investigative file and I'll wait on her report before making any kind of judgment about the probe. I only addressed an issue you raised that is outside of the investigative file. And it isn't a defense of the KCSO - the evidence I've seen pretty much confirms that KCSO was investigating this as an assault until the autopsy results came back. I'm not saying their focus was right or wrong. You seem to want to put me on the other side of an us vs. them situation, and I refuse to play along.

[Mykhailo]

You seem to want to put me on the other side of an us vs. them situation, and I refuse to play along.
Holding back on the condescending insults might help.

[Scott Barker]

Holding back on the condescending insults might help.

I don't know where I've been insulting or condescending, but if I've been out of line I would be happy to apologize.

[binR Bishop]

I don't know where I've been insulting or condescending, but if I've been out of line I would be happy to apologize.

I don't really think you've been either. But I think Katie and friends are (understandably) on their very last nerve right now, and it pays to be extra diplomatic when discussing this issue.

Disclaimer: I have never met Katie personally, altho I do know her ex and Henry's dad Chris.

[kag]

I address people here by their screen names because I respect the conventions of the Blab. I happen to use my real name. Others don't, and I respect that.

I don't have anything to do with the reporting or editing of news articles about your son. I'm not in the newsroom and have no authority to direct coverage either before or after the fact. I post here with the approval of KNS management.

I'm the editorial page editor. In our only editorial on this incident, we wrote that we support your civil lawsuit as the only way the issues surrounding Henry's death would get a full public hearing in the event that no criminal charges were filed. Authorities have said they won't seek criminal charges. We still support your using the civil courts as a way to air all the issues surrounding Henry's death.

I'm also not arguing about the investigation. Jamie Satterfield is looking into the investigative file and I'll wait on her report before making any kind of judgment about the probe. I only addressed an issue you raised that is outside of the investigative file. And it isn't a defense of the KCSO - the evidence I've seen pretty much confirms that KCSO was investigating this as an assault until the autopsy results came back. I'm not saying their focus was right or wrong. You seem to want to put me on the other side of an us vs. them situation, and I refuse to play along.

Scott, per your assertion that you yourself have had nothing to do with reporting or editing "stories about (my) son," I want to make clear that my position is that newsroom employees of the local newspaper should not be offering commentary of any kind on any social media platform regarding issues or topics that are currently the subject of reporting by that newspaper, whether that specific newsroom reporter is personally assigned that story or not. Same goes for engaging in debate with subjects of current reporting by the newspaper. Obviously you disagree, but that's my position.

However, I also take issue with the claim you make that as editorial page editor, you have had no role in covering any issue related to my son's case. Did you or did you not author a recent KNS editorial on the topic of my son's case, either wholly or in part?

-Katie Allison Granju
Knoxville, TN

[Scott Barker]

I don't really think you've been either. But I think Katie and friends are (understandably) on their very last nerve right now, and it pays to be extra diplomatic when discussing this issue.

Disclaimer: I have never met Katie personally, altho I do know her ex and Henry's dad Chris.

That's part of the problem when discussing this incident. I've been diplomatic and will continue to be. I'll let it rest for now.

[CubeDoctor]

That's part of the problem when discussing this incident. I've been diplomatic and will continue to be. I'll let it rest for now.

I have aways found you to be diplomatic and a gentleman.........well there was that time at Woolworths.

[kag]

Thanks for the professional advice, kag, but I must remind you that Jamie is covering the story for us, not me. I have only seen the summary and don't pretend to know details of whatever else is in the investigative file. I did look up the FBI's suggested protocols to which you linked. They are designed for incidents in which the officers arrive at a scene to find a dead overdose victim. That didn't apply in Henry's case. He was alive when he left the scene. Also, at the time KCSO was operating under the belief that Henry had been injured in an assault. The crime scene for that was, if I recall correctly, the BiLo, not the house where he OD'd.

One thing I'd like to clear up for everyone is that KCSO did not extend an unsolicited invitation to KNS for the release of the investigative file. We had a standing public records request for the file and all they did was notify us when they would be fulfilling that request.

Scott - referring specifically to this quote above: "Also, at the time KCSO was operating under the belief that Henry had been injured in an assault. The crime scene for that was, if I recall correctly, the BiLo, not the house where he OD'd. "

Are you suggesting that KCSO was not aware when we met with them in the first hour Henry was admitted to the ER that he was suffering from a drug overdose as well as injuries from some sort of physical assault? Because I can assure you that KCSO WAS aware of this.. In fact, the KCSO officer who was at the hospital that first hour spoke extensively with me, Henry's father, UTMC ER physician Dr. Paul Branca, and with a critical witness who rushed to the ER in the first hour to make sure law enforcement understood that Randall Houser and Yolanda Harper had repeatedly refused to call 911 for Henry despite her pleas. While I have yet to open the released case file (I intend to do so for the first time as soon as I post this message), I am told that there is KCSO dashcam video of Henry being loaded into an ambulance at Harper and Houser's residence, and following the ambulance to UT Medical Center. Paramedics's records make clear that they treated Henry for drug overdose-related issues as well as physical trauma from the moment they arrived at the Tarklin Valley residence. KCSO was there with them. This certainly calls into question your claim that KCSO was unaware of the fact that Henry was suffering from the effects of a drug overdose as well as an assault from the beginning.

The BiLo on John Sevier Highway was not the scene of any assault, nor was it the scene of Henry's drug overdose. There never was any crime scene there. The BiLo parking lot on John Sevier is where Randall Houser took Henry into his custody on the evening of April 26.

The April 25 assault took place in Vestal, and the only crime scene KCSO was aware of in the beginning is the one from which they watched paramedics remove my bloody, unconscious son at about 11:30 am on April 27. That location was the residence of Houser and Harper on Tarklin Valley Road.

-Katie Allison Granju

[pages]

Wouldn't it have been smart to give the family a heads-up and a day's headstart when releasing this file, given the sensitive relationship that has evolved in this situation? Nichols could have sent them the letter and the file and released it to the rest of us 24 or 48 hours later. Maybe even have met with them as he offered to do in the letter. There are a lot of ways he and JJ could have avoided most of this ugliness with a little commonsense and courtesy.

+1

[faybe]

might also have hearsay admissibility issues here, but i don't know

prayers for the family

according to the summary report:
there are 4 witnesses that say Henry told them Y/R gave him methadone. Statements made by Henry are hearsay. But there are 3 other witnesses that say Yolanda admitted to them she gave henry methadone. But those 3, according to the report, have credibility issues.

[Scott Barker]

Scott - referring specifically to this quote above: "Also, at the time KCSO was operating under the belief that Henry had been injured in an assault. The crime scene for that was, if I recall correctly, the BiLo, not the house where he OD'd. "

Are you suggesting that KCSO was not aware when we met with them in the first hour Henry was admitted to the ER that he was suffering from a drug overdose as well as injuries from some sort of physical assault? Because I can assure you that KCSO WAS aware of this.. In fact, the KCSO officer who was at the hospital that first hour spoke extensively with me, Henry's father, UTMC ER physician Dr. Paul Branca, and with a critical witness who rushed to the ER in the first hour to make sure law enforcement understood that Randall Houser and Yolanda Harper had repeatedly refused to call 911 for Henry despite her pleas. While I have yet to open the released case file (I intend to do so for the first time as soon as I post this message), I am told that there is KCSO dashcam video of Henry being loaded into an ambulance at Harper and Houser's residence, and following the ambulance to UT Medical Center. Paramedics's records make clear that they treated Henry for drug overdose-related issues as well as physical trauma from the moment they arrived at the Tarklin Valley residence. KCSO was there with them. This certainly calls into question your claim that KCSO was unaware of the fact that Henry was suffering from the effects of a drug overdose as well as an assault from the beginning.

The BiLo on John Sevier Highway was not the scene of any assault, nor was it the scene of Henry's drug overdose. There never was any crime scene there. The BiLo parking lot on John Sevier is where Randall Houser took Henry into his custody on the evening of April 26.

The April 25 assault took place in Vestal, and the only crime scene KCSO was aware of in the beginning is the one from which they watched paramedics remove my bloody, unconscious son at about 11:30 am on April 27. That location was the residence of Houser and Harper on Tarklin Valley Road.

-Katie Allison Granju

Obviously, you think I'm some sort of enemy, even though I'm not. I'll just wait until Satterfield reports further on this matter.

[kag]

Obviously, you think I'm some sort of enemy, even though I'm not. I'll just wait until Satterfield reports further on this matter.

Scott, I do not think you are "the enemy." What I think is that you a journalist working in the newsroom of a media outlet currently covering a story directly involving me, my children andthe rest of our family. Thus, if you choose to participate in a public forum and offer your opinions, analysis and factual assertions regarding the story your newsroom is covering, you should expect a response from me, particularly when your facts are in error. As I said, I don't believe you can have it both ways. If you and KNS editorial management are okay with journalists making the kinds of comments that you've made at KnoxBlab about a story being covered by the newspaper, then so be it. I don't think that's an ethical policy, but I also don't run E.W. Scripps. Not my call. However, if you are going to put your own opinions and understanding of the facts of this case out in a public forum, it's reasonable to expect me to resPond when the facts you've suggested or asserts are in error. And that's what I've done. Either have this conversation or don't, but don't pop in with your own thoughts and opinions and information and then act as if it's unreasonable of me to respond. - Respectfully, Katie (please excuse any typos. On iPhone)

[faybe]

something else I just noticed .. according to the report about this case on the Daily Beast , LE has to request the tests on the blood samples. I do hope , Jamie, that if you are reading this you get to the bottom of this issue. It would be good for citizens to know just what the protocol is at the hospitals regarding this.

[rikki]

Scott, I do not think you are "the enemy." What I think is that you a journalist working in the newsroom of a media outlet currently covering a story directly involving me, my children and the rest of our family.

But Scott is no longer in the newsroom. He is now editor of the opinion pages and has no direct involvement in gathering or reporting news.

[CubeDoctor]

But Scott is no longer in the newsroom. He is now editor of the opinion pages and has no direct involvement in gathering or reporting news.

Ink is thicker than water :)

[kag]

But Scott is no longer in the newsroom. He is now editor of the opinion pages and has no direct involvement in gathering or reporting news.

Rikki, we will have to agree to disagree then on whether a member of a newspaper's editorial board and the managing editor of its opinion page is a newsroom journalist who should avoid expressing public opinions and offering commentary about news stories currently the subject of front page coverage by that newspaper. And if my view on the appropriateness of that is in the minority, then so be it. However, if KNS staffers choose to participate in a public discussion about my son's case, I am going to participate as well, and with vigor. - katie

[HagarKicksAss]

When KCSO arrived, they knew nothing. There was no report of an assault. Just a near-death teenager in a remote house trailer in far south Knox county. That does not warrant some investigation? The assault investigation idea Scott threw out there is weak at best. Further, why on earth would KCSO not change course when they realized the case may be more complicated than it originally appeared? From the outside, it looked like from the top down KCSO dug in an began operating in a CYA/political mode immediately when the case looked like it wasn't following one of the well-worn recipes from their book. That sort of cowardly behavior scares the hell out of me for all our safety.

[tardisrider]

Rikki, we will have to agree to disagree then on whether a member of a newspaper's editorial board and the managing editor of its opinion page is a newsroom journalist who should avoid expressing public opinions and offering commentary about news stories currently the subject of front page coverage by that newspaper. And if my view on the appropriateness of that is in the minority, then so be it. However, if KNS staffers choose to participate in a public discussion about my son's case, I am going to participate as well, and with vigor. - katie

I vote for Barker.

(which isn't meant to be mean to kag, but I think she's wrong in this case)

[Trip]

Obviously, you think I'm some sort of enemy, even though I'm not. I'll just wait until Satterfield reports further on this matter.

Once again Mr. Barker you miss the point and furthermore holding up satterfield as some kind of unbiased journalist is a total joke, you people will do whatever it takes to sell newspapers and satterfield is the worst or best from the editorial board at kns point of view! What a joke of a newspaper. BTW the new layout looks like crap.

[T-Roy]

Once again Mr. Barker you miss the point and furthermore holding up satterfield as some kind of unbiased journalist is a total joke, you people will do whatever it takes to sell newspapers and satterfield is the worst or best from the editorial board at kns point of view! What a joke of a newspaper. BTW the new layout looks like crap.

and that tie is just plain awful.

[binR Bishop]

and that tie is just plain awful.

And you need a haircut.

[Daizy]

And you need a haircut.


That's nothing new.

[Daizy]

When KCSO arrived, they knew nothing. There was no report of an assault. Just a near-death teenager in a remote house trailer in far south Knox county. That does not warrant some investigation? The assault investigation idea Scott threw out there is weak at best. Further, why on earth would KCSO not change course when they realized the case may be more complicated than it originally appeared? From the outside, it looked like from the top down KCSO dug in an began operating in a CYA/political mode immediately when the case looked like it wasn't following one of the well-worn recipes from their book. That sort of cowardly behavior scares the hell out of me for all our safety.

Me, too. And the bit about hospital protocols requiring a sample to be tossed....? That sounds simply nuts and I would like to know more about that situation.

[earlnemo]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/30/henry-granju-living-and-dying-in-the-drug-world/?partner=popular


Good job with a really sad and convoluted story, Jamie.


I can sorta see how a homicide charge might be hard to stick, but practically everybody involved in this deal are confessed criminals, so I can't see how nobody got charged with anything, not even simple possession?

And KCSO fails to confess that they bungled the blood & the interview(s), even as a hind-sight admission.

[tardisrider]

Me, too. And the bit about hospital protocols requiring a sample to be tossed....? That sounds simply nuts and I would like to know more about that situation.

That's pretty standard operating procedure--nothing at all strange about it. If there's no more work to be done (or a court order, which, as I understand, there wasn't) there's no need to have biological samples sitting around.

[Jamie Satterfield]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/30/henry-granju-living-and-dying-in-the-drug-world/?partner=popular


Good job with a really sad and convoluted story, Jamie.


I can sorta see how a homicide charge might be hard to stick, but practically everybody involved in this deal are confessed criminals, so I can't see how nobody got charged with anything, not even simple possession?

And KCSO fails to confess that they bungled the blood & the interview(s), even as a hind-sight admission.

No one showed up at KCSO with drugs on them, so, odd as it sounds given some of these folks confessions to having possessed/sold drugs at some point before the interviews, there is no possession charge, which makes a crime to be found with illegal drugs in one's possession. I have to think that all of these folks are now on some drug investigator's radar though so we'll see. And thanks for taking the time to read it. It took me a solid week simply to go through the file, listen to each and every recording, watch every interrogation and sift through every document before I could even begin framing up a story.

[kag]

Our family will have a comprehensive, thoroughly sourced, written response to the contents of KCSO's released case file, as well as today's KNS story within the next 1-2 months. It's tempting to respond in a rapid, ad hoc way, given the way our boy and our family are being characterized, as well as the fact that the released KCSO case file is a compendium of shoddy police work, CYA lies and half-truths, and contempt for the victim, but we won't do that.

I pray that no one reading this ever lives through a nightmare like this. Obviously, Henry's death was the worst thing that could ever happen to all of us who loved him, but what we've lived through since that time, right up until today is something that before it happened to us, I believed only happened to victim's families in crime novels and Hollywood scripts. But as corny as this may sound, I truly do believe that truth and justice will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, however, I cannot imagine how E.W. Scripps ownership and management can possibly justify their willingness to offer a free, high profile online platform for the anonymous lies, hate, garbage and vitriol being published about my son, me and our family in the " comments" accompanying today's story.That comments section is not about journalism, civic engagement or democracy. It's about selling ads next quarter against the page view numbers that those comments will generate this week, comments against which I have absolutely no way to defend myself, my dead child, or my living children. We are real people. We ave not been accused of or committed any crime. We have no recourse whatsoever to respond to those"comments." And no matter how hard their father and I work to prevent it, my 15

year old daughter and 13 year old son will eventually read or hear about the words that the KNS is allowing (encouraging?) anonymous individuals to publish beneath the newspaper's online masthead today. Unfettered character assassination by anonymous writers to which the subjects have ZERO recourse for defense or meaningful response is not journalism. It's terrorism.

Respectfully, Katie Allison Granju, Henry Granju's mother

EDIT: In re-reading what I wrote above, I want to clarify that I am not criticizing Jamie Satterfield's work today. Jamie knows that I sometimes respectfully disagree with her on certain issues, but the key word is respectfully. I believe that Jamie is honest, ethical and careful in her work, even if she and I might end up seeing the same issue differently. It is likely that the written report that our family is putting together will in some minimal way address KNS's decision to run today's story when they did and how they did it, but that's not the point I was making in my strong words above. That criticism was specifically about the business decision that E.W. Scripps leadership has made to allow anonymous commenting to become a bread and butter component of their online traffic strategy.

If a KNS reporter published something factually false or misleading about me, my son, or anyone else in our family, or reported lies as fact, I could call up that reporter or a KNS editor and explain my concern, present documentation of the error(s), and then the KNS would publish a clear correction or retraction under their own masthead. If a KNS sanctioned op-ed writer or columnist wrote an editorial filled with venomous, vicious and hateful commentary about my family, the community would be outraged, no matter what their opinion of my public advocacy for my son's case. Plus, I could bring the matter to the KNS editorial board, or take my complaint to E.W. Scripps' ombudsman or journalism ethics committee, and in one of these ways, I would have some real recourse for my objections. That's how journalism works.

But in the case of the hundreds (certainly well over a thousand at this point) of anonymous comments published on the KNS site under the KNS masthead since the day Henry died, no one in our family has ANY meaningful recourse to defend ourselves or even register an objection that matters. If I were to comment under my own name to defend our family, or correct factual errors, we all know it would only make things worse, with more vicious, anonymous comments raining down on me, Henry's memory and my surviving children.

If anonymous KNS commenters want to write that Henry was a known serial killer who sold drugs to toddlers, and that I am a convicted embezzler with a history of pedophila, the KNS gives them a prominent publishing platform to do that. If anonymous commenters want to INSIST that our family practices satanism and fries up the neighbors' pets for supper, the KNS is cool with that as well. And even if the anonymous commenters just want to publish hateful **opinions** about my son or me or our family - examples: "the only good junkie is a dead junkie" and multiple suggestions that Henry enjoyed being sexually exploited for drugs - that serve absolutely no purpose but to hurt us/create pageviews, those folks get to use the KNS's server, content management system and paid promotional efforts to ensure a large audience for their cruelty.

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM. And it's also not a reasonable or responsible way to support or encourage civic dialogue and engagement on controversial issues. The KNS comments feature is crass, ugly, and makes our community less than it was before our hometown newspaper began publishing the comments with stories in the way that they do it.

Other newspapers have worked, and are working hard to find ways to support more responsible and accountable forms of reader engagement and dialogue. The way that the KNS is doing it is a trainwreck, and the management at the newspaper needs to understand that this isn't just a philosophical thing. Those anonymous comments HURT PEOPLE - real people who really live and work and go to school in this town. As someone who has lived through absolute hell over the past year directly resulting from a large volume of anonymous hate and lies being published in the Knoxville News Sentinel, I hope and pray that at some point, newspaper management will weigh the ad sales value of those pageviews vs the pain and embarrassment that they cause people, and perhaps reconsider their strategy.

[spinetingler]

^this^

[bird jam]

Our family will have a comprehensive, thoroughly sourced, written response to the contents of KCSO's released case file, as well as today's KNS story within the next 1-2 months. It's tempting to respond in a rapid, ad hoc way, given the way our boy and our family are being characterized, as well as the fact that the released KCSO case file is a compendium of shoddy police work, CYA lies and half-truths, and contempt for the victim, but we won't do that.

I pray that no one reading this ever lives through a nightmare like this. Obviously, Henry's death was the worst thing that could ever happen to all of us who loved him, but what we've lived through since that time, right up until today is something that before it happened to us, I believed only happened to victim's families in crime novels and Hollywood scripts. But as corny as this may sound, I truly do believe that truth and justice will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, however, I cannot imagine how E.W. Scripps ownership and management can possibly justify their willingness to offer a free, high profile online platform for the anonymous lies, hate, garbage and vitriol being published about my son, me and our family in the " comments" accompanying today's story.That comments section is not about journalism, civic engagement or democracy. It's about selling ads next quarter against the page view numbers that those comments will generate this week, comments against which I have absolutely no way to defend myself, my dead child, or my living children. We are real people. We ave not been accused of or committed any crime. We have no recourse whatsoever to respond to those"comments." And no matter how hard their father and I work to prevent it, my 15

year old daughter and 13 year old son will eventually read or hear about the words that the KNS is allowing (encouraging?) anonymous individuals to publish beneath the newspaper's online masthead today. Unfettered character assassination by anonymous writers to which the subjects have ZERO recourse for defense or meaningful response is not journalism. It's terrorism.

Respectfully, Katie Allison Granju, Henry Granju's mother

EDIT: In re-reading what I wrote above, I want to clarify that I am not criticizing Jamie Satterfield's work today. Jamie knows that I sometimes respectfully disagree with her on certain issues, but the key word is respectfully. I believe that Jamie is honest, ethical and careful in her work, even if she and I might end up seeing the same issue differently. It is likely that the written report that our family is putting together will in some minimal way address KNS's decision to run today's story when they did and how they did it, but that's not the point I was making in my strong words above. That criticism was specifically about the business decision that E.W. Scripps leadership has made to allow anonymous commenting to become a bread and butter component of their online traffic strategy.

If a KNS reporter published something factually false or misleading about me, my son, or anyone else in our family, or reported lies as fact, I could call up that reporter or a KNS editor and explain my concern, present documentation of the error(s), and then the KNS would publish a clear correction or retraction under their own masthead. If a KNS sanctioned op-ed writer or columnist wrote an editorial filled with venomous, vicious and hateful commentary about my family, the community would be outraged, no matter what their opinion of my public advocacy for my son's case. Plus, I could bring the matter to the KNS editorial board, or take my complaint to E.W. Scripps' ombudsman or journalism ethics committee, and in one of these ways, I would have some real recourse for my objections. That's how journalism works.

But in the case of the hundreds (certainly well over a thousand at this point) of anonymous comments published on the KNS site under the KNS masthead since the day Henry died, no one in our family has ANY meaningful recourse to defend ourselves or even register an objection that matters. If I were to comment under my own name to defend our family, or correct factual errors, we all know it would only make things worse, with more vicious, anonymous comments raining down on me, Henry's memory and my surviving children.

If anonymous KNS commenters want to write that Henry was a known serial killer who sold drugs to toddlers, and that I am a convicted embezzler with a history of pedophila, the KNS gives them a prominent publishing platform to do that. If anonymous commenters want to INSIST that our family practices satanism and fries up the neighbors' pets for supper, the KNS is cool with that as well. And even if the anonymous commenters just want to publish hateful **opinions** about my son or me or our family - examples: "the only good junkie is a dead junkie" and multiple suggestions that Henry enjoyed being sexually exploited for drugs - that serve absolutely no purpose but to hurt us/create pageviews, those folks get to use the KNS's server, content management system and paid promotional efforts to ensure a large audience for their cruelty.

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM. And it's also not a reasonable or responsible way to support or encourage civic dialogue and engagement on controversial issues. The KNS comments feature is crass, ugly, and makes our community less than it was before our hometown newspaper began publishing the comments with stories in the way that they do it.

Other newspapers have worked, and are working hard to find ways to support more responsible and accountable forms of reader engagement and dialogue. The way that the KNS is doing it is a trainwreck, and the management at the newspaper needs to understand that this isn't just a philosophical thing. Those anonymous comments HURT PEOPLE - real people who really live and work and go to school in this town. As someone who has lived through absolute hell over the past year directly resulting from a large volume of anonymous hate and lies being published in the Knoxville News Sentinel, I hope and pray that at some point, newspaper management will weigh the ad sales value of those pageviews vs the pain and embarrassment that they cause people, and perhaps reconsider their strategy.

Quite a change from the second post here:

http://funhouserock.com/funhouse/blab/showthread.php?10821-The-News-Sentinel-needs-to-just-do-away-with-the-comment-feature...

Not that the change isn't justified. I just found it interesting.

[kag]

Posting on phone so can't open link, but if you are directing to previous things I've written in years past in support of anonymous, mostly unmoderated commenting on media sites, I was flat out wrong. I believed that this concept would carry on American tradition of robust debate while protecting folks with minority views. That's not what happened as this concept has played out on media platforms in the past few years. My views were changing before my son died, and I likely would have written publicly about how and why by now but for the fact that I've been dealing with all that I've been dealing with and haven't had time to address the issue. But hells yeah,my personal experience in the past 14 months finally drove the point all the way home for me. I work in digital media, and I thought anonymous commenting would be good for civic dialogue and democracy in general. But I repeat, I was wrong.I can't imagine that even the folks at KNS who also thought it seemed like a good idea when first introduced haven't had second thoughts by now, given the reality of what the concept has become. Unfortunately, the comments feature at the newspaper has also
now become a significant business asset.

[Ian]

For what it's worth, most people and all reasonable people can parse anonymous online comments for what they're worth.

http://yoki.com/pics/gift.jpg

[pages]

For what it's worth, most people and all reasonable people can parse anonymous online comments for what they're

Ian, I think you might feel differently if the comments where about you and your family. When I started writing the column, I thought I was prepared. I'd been in a high-profile newspaper war. Hell, I had taught middle/high school. And then came the KNS commenters. They are mean, personal, heartless and they will stop at nothing. One of them actually trashed my grandmother for teaching me to love democracy by voting.

[tardisrider]

Ian, I think you might feel differently if the comments where about you and your family.

I suspect he would feel exactly the same. Just a guess based on the image.

[Hank IV]

For what it's worth, most people and all reasonable people can parse anonymous online comments for what they're worth.

http://yoki.com/pics/gift.jpg

To speed up the equation, add alcohol.

[Sappho]

For what it's worth, most people and all reasonable people can parse anonymous online comments for what they're worth.

http://yoki.com/pics/gift.jpg


Considering we are talking about the KNS Comments, I'd say Ian would do just as he has advised.

I don't ever even read beyond the articles. Nothing to gain there.

DON'T LOOK KAG! You don't need to read what you know you will find there!

[metulj]

What I find fascinating is that the cretins at the KNS comment section have no real problem with two out-of-control drug dealers still out and about in the community. Two people who, no matter what about Henry and his problems, are known to prey on teenagers and young adults. It is completely OK with the morons who post there.

Also, I bet Skirob and Hi Top are seeing a flurry of account adds right about now. Add them in, boys. Let's see them step into the professional league. Fucking wankers every single one of them.

[Hank IV]

Oh, yeah. I've sorta been keeping an eye on the number of people on the Blab and the last month or so it's well over 100 most of the time. And of those 100 only 20/25 are members.

[rikki]

No one showed up at KCSO with drugs on them, so, odd as it sounds given some of these folks confessions to having possessed/sold drugs at some point before the interviews, there is no possession charge, which makes a crime to be found with illegal drugs in one's possession. I have to think that all of these folks are now on some drug investigator's radar though so we'll see. And thanks for taking the time to read it. It took me a solid week simply to go through the file, listen to each and every recording, watch every interrogation and sift through every document before I could even begin framing up a story.

There is no point in pursuing murder charges because no one wanted Henry dead. There is no discrete proof of possession, so we can't charge anyone for that. I guess that means there are no charges possible! Hooray, end of story!

Oh, wait, there's an array of manslaughter and negligent homicide statutes full of potential crimes. Typically a DA would charge numerous crimes and hope to get some to stick. Even in the Casey Anthony case, she was convicted of minor charges. There has been no satisfying answer to why lesser charges have not been tried. There are baseline facts that provide grounds for criminal charges. They are not murder charges. They are not necessarily the charges kag might want, but to say that Henry does not even deserve the seating of a jury is disgraceful. I would rather see this case resolved with a jury exonerating Harper and Houser of all charges than with a DA deciding Henry's fate by default.

We all know what happened. Henry was off the wagon, back on his home turf, in love, watched his girlfriend go to jail, got mugged trying to raise her bail, added "medicinal" doses onto his habitual opiate intake to deal with his many pains and ended up slowly choking on vomit. Yolanda Harper found him somewhere along the path from puking to asphyxiation, possibly revived him to some extent and called for an ambulance. If she found him too late, she may be blameless or even heroic, but there is no doubt that dialing 911 should have happened sooner during the ordeal. I can begrudge her several minutes of panic and disorientation, but once she gets on the phone, 911 should have been among her first calls. Maybe she had good reason to think Henry was breathing again and not in need of help for 16 minutes. It only takes a few seconds to call 911.

Harper deserves a jury to clear her just as Henry deserves one to show that his death was no one's fault but his own. There is no justice without a jury.

[pages]

Likely he would. And after some trial and error, I have learned not to take them seriously. Matter of fact some weeks I don't even read them. When I do read them it's just to skim for one of two things: threats and the off chance that some one has said something that deserves a sincere reply. So far, I haven't found either.

And I've told kag several times that she should not read the comments. She knows it would be best, but it is hard for her not to read them. And I can't say that I would be any different if I were in her shoes.

I pray that none of us come close to having an experience like her's.

Considering we are talking about the KNS Comments, I'd say Ian would do just as he has advised.

I don't ever even read beyond the articles. Nothing to gain there.

DON'T LOOK KAG! You don't need to read what you know you will find there!

[kag]

Thinking about my boy tonight. God I miss him. Today has been a really, really hard day: http://mamapundit.com/2011/07/the-real-henry/