[StBernard] St. Bernard couple arrested in drug overdose death

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Thu Oct 22 21:12:40 EDT 2009


St. Bernard couple arrested in drug overdose death
By Kim Chatelain, The Times-Picayune
October 22, 2009, 6:04PM
A St. Bernard Parish couple was arrested after allowing a man who had
overdosed on heroin to die at their home without calling for medical help,
authorities said.


Kristopher Howse, 24, and his wife, Shelly Howse, 25, both of 3401 Nancy
Drive in Meraux, were booked Wednesday with negligent homicide and
obstruction of justice in the death of Chase Julian, 24, of Arabi, St.
Bernard Parish sheriff's officials said.


The two apparently feared they would be arrested for drug possession if they
summoned medical help for Julian, authorities said.


The Howses were also booked with contributing to the delinquency of their
young daughters, who were in the home when Julian died, officials said.


Both are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison, the husband in lieu of
$150,000 bond and the wife in lieu of a bond of $75,000, authorities said.


"This is a case in which people who are afraid they are going to be arrested
if they call for medical help when someone is overdosing allows the person
to die rather than get the help that could save them," Chief Deputy James
Pohlmann said. "When it's all said and done, the person dies and the one who
didn't call for help ends up being booked with negligent homicide. Clearly,
people should get help for someone who is overdosing."


Kristopher Howse called 911 about 1 a.m. Tuesday to report that Julian had
overdosed on heroin, which the victim had injected at Howse's home.
Authorities believe Julian took the heroin around 7 p.m. Monday and
immediately fell unconscious.


Under questioning, Howse told authorities that after Julian lost
consciousness, he contacted a friend who recommended putting him in a cold
bath, which didn't revive him. He also tried CPR, to no avail, officials
said.


Howse acknowledged he had taken Julian to New Orleans to purchase heroin on
Tuesday, authorities said. He was initially arrested on a drug paraphernalia
charge, but he and his wife were booked Wednesday with negligent homicide
and other charges after a follow-up investigation, officials said.


Julian had been arrested previously on heroin charges in St. Bernard, and
Kristopher Howse has one previous drug arrested involving Ecstasy,
authorities said. Information on the disposition of those cases was not
available Thursday.


Shelly Howse has no prior criminal record, officials said.




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