Another Campus Death

UC Berkeley senior Patrick McCann was pronounced dead, October 15 2004, of unknown causes. Update October 20, 2004: The reason the roommates didn't call 911, but transported the dead or dying McCann, is that their house was full of dope and guns.

Previous campus deaths this year: Deaths 2004; What To Do; a few change strategies

Senior Pronounced Dead at Hospital, Cause Unknown By MONICA APPELBE Monday, October 18, 2004

UC Berkeley senior Patrick McCann was pronounced dead early Friday afternoon of unknown causes after being transported to a hospital by friends, authorities said. He was 22.

A friend found McCann in his South Berkeley residence on the 2100 block of Oregon Street and brought him to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center where he was deemed dead on arrival at 12:45 p.m., the Alameda County Coroner’s office said.

The friend never called 911 and brought McCann directly to the hospital from his South Berkeley residence, said Berkeley police Lt. Wesley Hester. Police are investigating the death as suspicious, and the case has been referred to homicide detectives, Hester said. Police would not say why the death is considered suspicious or reveal any details surrounding the incident. An autopsy will be performed today, said Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau Investigator David Foehner.

A standard toxicology report will be completed in four to six weeks to determine whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the death, the coroner’s office said. McCann, a legal studies major, played on the Cal Men’s Water Polo team for two years before deciding to quit to focus on school, said fraternity brother and longtime friend Rich Schwanbeck.

McCann, a native Texan, moved to Lake Forest in Orange County in elementary school with his two brothers, sister and parents, Sandy and Ted McCann.

In fall 2001, McCann joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, but moved into an apartment last year to “get his life in order” and “put all his efforts on school and work,” Schwanbeck said.

“It’s just shocking how someone so young and so full of life, and in such good shape could die,” Schwanbeck said.

Alice Tzou of The Daily Californian contributed to this report. Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Berkeley Police Homicide Detail at 981-5741.

Roommates of dead student in drug bust Berkeley police charge 3, seek 1 in 'significant' growing, selling operation

By Kristin Bender, STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY --The mysterious death of a University of California, Berkeley student took a bizarre turn October 19, 2004 when police announced that the dead man's roommates were keeping pounds of marijuana, narcotics, guns and stacks of suspected drug money at their South Berkeley residence.

Inside what appeared to be a bachelor pad for a group of twentysomethings, including four UC Berkeley students, was a sprawling marijuana-growing operation, a pharmacy of methadone and an organized drug-running operation that police called a sizable bust. UC Berkeley student Patrick McCann, 22, was found unconscious in the Oregon Street home October 15, 2004. He later died at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

What killed McCann was not determined by an autopsy Monday. But police say the death does not appear to be a homicide or linked to foul play. Toxicology tests will show whether he died from a drug overdose. On Tuesday, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed drug charges against four of McCann's roommates.

Charged were UC Berkeley students Matthew Mark Morrison, a 22-year-old legal studies junior, and Babatunde John Oyelowo, a 21-year-old junior studying conservation and resource studies.

Morrison and Oyelowo were each charged with one count of felony marijuana cultivation and one count of possession of marijuana for sale. They are out on bail and were arraigned Tuesday in Alameda Superior Court in Oakland.

UC Berkeley spokeswoman Marie Felde said the university did not have a comment on the charges.

Also arrested was Casey D. Lanzon, who was last enrolled as an American studies major at UC Berkeley in the fall, university officials said. In addition to the marijuana charges, Lanzon, 23, was charged with illegal possession of an assault rifle, police said. Late Tuesday, Lanzon remained in jail in lieu of $30,000 in bail, authorities said.

Police are still seeking a fourth roommate, 22-year-old Thatcher Barwick Hillegas, in connection with the bust. Police said he is wanted on the felony marijuana charges. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Police were tipped off to the drug den when McCann, a seemingly healthy former Cal water polo player, was found unconscious at the home he shared with the roommates and rushed to Alta Bates around noon Friday.

The roommates left the scene before McCann was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m., police said. "It was suspicious in the way that it happened, and that led us to the investigation" of the house, said Berkeley police spokesman Officer Steve Rego.

Police returned to the property, which includes two houses on one lot, secured search warrants and went inside. There, investigators found at least 6 pounds of marijuana and what is believed to be more than 100 methadone pills packaged for sale. The pills are undergoing tests now.

They also discovered "Pay-O" sheets for logging drug transactions, drug scales and lights, a 12-gauge shotgun, an assault rifle, two semiautomatic pistols and nearly $14,000 in cash, police said. "(The drug bust) is pretty significant," Rego said. "I wouldn't say it happens very often. There was a lot of money, a lot of dope and a lot of guns in the house," he said.

Morrison, Oyelowo and Lanzon were arraigned in court Tuesday. The defendants and their families declined comment following the court proceedings. They are due back in court Nov. 4 to enter a plea.

Oakland attorney Dennis Roberts, who is representing Lanzon, declined comment. "I don't know very much about the case, unfortunately, and it's really too early to comment," Roberts said. While the death of McCann does not appear to be a homicide, police said the case remains under investigation.

Comments

[Ted McCann]

I am deeply disturbed by the inuendo in your article regarding my son's tragic death at Berkley this last year. As mentioned in the article that you losley referred to there were two houses on the subject property and there is absolutely no evedince whatsoever that Pat was involved in the "drugs and guns" that were located in the other house that was occupied by non students. I have been in constant contact with the Berkley detectives and I am very well aware of the situation. Patrick's best friend even said he left the frat house to concentrate on academics. Patrick was intellegent, athletic, and had a magnetic personality that effected not only the students at Berkley, but he also was able to meet and positvely effect many people aroung the world because of his gifted athletic ability and positive personality.
The unsubstantiated inuendo in this artcle serves no positive purpose. Why would you print this?

[sdfgfdg]

edited for languageF----- Rich College Losers. F---- off and do not go to school.

[annonymous]

I just have to say I have known Pat since elementary school. He was a great guy. He was intelligent, good humored and extremely genuine. He had a really calming presence on people. Although I am unaware of the cause of death, I have to say that I am saddened by articles like this neglect to mention his wonderful character and instead focus on the unfortunate circumstances that may or may not be related to his death.

[Patrick McCann]

i overdosed on drugs

it was all fun until i carked it

but i would to it again if i had the chance cause im a loser

[Patrick McCann]

the real reason i died is that the cock i was sucking on spurted and then got stuck in my throat

for more than one reason i now will never deep throat again

[Girjesh]

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[Adam]

I just wonder what happened to the case now. It's just so sad because, we really have no idea on the reason behind his death. But one thing's for sure, in times like these we must protect ourselves from harm. I do the same by having some replacement of windows and doors here in our hometown of Fairfax, VA. We put some better security locks to ensure that my family's safe from harm. There is also an advantage when you now have a windows replacement. Windows (Alexandria, VA) have better-quality features now. For me it's better to make this as an investment for your family's safety.