Leland Martin, 18, Alcohol-Related Death

As always, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Mr. Martin was a senior at Winder-Barrow high school in Winder, Georgia.  The prom was held on April 28, 2007; after the prom, he joined a number of friends at an after-prom party in nearby Auburn.

Alcohol was available; by eyewitness accounts Mr. Martin was "highly intoxicated".  The party went on well past 4:00 am. 

Martin either fell asleep or passed out and was laying in a position that cut off his ability to breathe. Because of his highly intoxicated state, he was unable to wake up and change position, said Maj. Murray Kogod, Barrow County's chief deputy.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

He was to graduate in a little over three weeks. He had received word just before the party that he had been accepted to Young Harris College on a full scholarship -- the first in his family to graduate and go to college. "He was, to me, a very warm and caring young man," said principal Rob Johnson. "that didn't put on airs, who was very genuine. He was very quiet -- a very genuine young man with a big heart."

Another news article reported:

The mood at Winder-Barrow High on Monday was somber and quiet, principal Rob Johnson said. Ten counselors from different Barrow County public schools spoke with students and teachers, he said. The high school has about 1,460 students.

Johnson said Martin was an honors student who won a full scholarship to Young Harris College, a private liberal arts college in North Georgia.

"He took school seriously and worked hard every day," Johnson said. "I remember he would show up in the morning and go to the cafeteria, where he would review his homework and make sure he was prepared for school. He was a very focused young man. This is very tragic."

One classmate said she worried that the manner of Martin's death might overshadow his otherwise sterling reputation.

"I don't want people to think he was some alcoholic," said Brittany Kellum, a classmate. "He was never a partyer. This is the first I'd heard of him partying."

Kellum said other students might have been reluctant to call for aid, fearful of being arrested for underage drinking. Kellum wasn't at the party Saturday night, she said. "I couldn't have been there and let something like that happen."

Several people have been arrested, with charges relating to Martin's death:

Authorities have charged three people in connection with the party, including the mother of the high school student who hosted it.

Thirty-nine-year-old Barbara Ann Michael was charged with nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, two counts of maintaining a disorderly house and one count of party to a crime of furnishing alcohol to a minor in connection with the fatal after-prom party and at least one other party.

Two teenagers -- earlier identified by Kogod as high school seniors 19-year-old Anthony Perry of Auburn and 19-year-old Jerry Donta Sanders of Statham -- also face charges.

Sanders faces a single count of simple battery on accusations he kicked Martin when he was on the ground. Perry faces a single reckless conduct charge for allegedly failing to call nine-one-one after he found Martin in bad shape.

 

Sources:
11Alive.com - Mystery Death At After-prom Party.

Atlanta Journal Constitution Report on Martin's death

Gwinnett Daily Post--reports of arrests related to Martin's death

First Coast News report on Martin's death

In 2004, at least nineteen people of college age  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD

In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation.   The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.