Michael Duni, 16, was at a sleep-over party supervised by a parent. When the parent went to bed, the alcohol came out. Duni had a "very high" blood alcohol, and was found dead the next morning.
High School Mourns Death Of Teen
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- The medical examiner has finished the autopsy of Michael Duni, but critical blood tests are being sent to the state lab. They're critical because detectives in Huntersville suspect the 16-year-old had a very high blood alcohol level when he died.
They won't know if he died from alcohol until blood tests are complete, but they do know he and other underage teens had alcohol at the weekend party where he died. Police say there were 10 teenaged boys at the Huntersville home on Saturday night. They'd come to play cards. But after the parent, who was there with them went to sleep, police believe the boys brought out beer and liquor that they'd hidden in their cars.
Investigators are now trying to track down how they got the alcohol that may have played a part in the death of a 16-year-old. Detective Ken Richardson says Huntersville police don't suspect the parent who hosted the teens. "She had no reason to believe that a party with alcohol was going on," he said. "You don't believe she provided the alcohol?" said Eyewitness News Reporter Jim Bradley. "No, there's no evidence of that at all," said Det. Richardson.
Teens have been hit hard by the death of their friend. Neighbor Kristee Dickson saw dozens at an impromptu neighborhood vigil. "There were a lot of kids. I'd say 30-50 cars and they were just hugging and crying," said Dickson. At North Mecklenburg High School, where Michael Duni was a wrestler, friends have already painted the school rock. Ron Overcash calls his friend's death a 'Reality Check.'
"People are still going to drink, but at the same time hopefully, they'll think about it some more before they do," said Overcash. "Will you?" asked Bradley. "Yea," said Overcash. Police say not all of the teens in the house Saturday night were drinking, but all are cooperating.
Criminal charges are possible against whoever provided the alcohol. As for Michael Duni, samples of his blood have been sent to the state lab. They'll determine his blood alcohol level at the time of his death. Those results could take weeks or months.
The National Center On Addiction And Drug Abuse says about 10-million teens under the age of 21 drink alcohol. Nearly half of them drink to excess, consuming five or more drinks in a row and most have had their first drink by age 14.
(previous posts: Alcohol overdose: timelines, and what to do with a potential victim; start of series: Lists of Kids Dying on Campus from Alcohol Poisoning, 2004; what you can do to change the underage drinking climate in your community; Patrick McCann's death in a drug dealing house; two sources of help: T-Dub.org, T DuB is an organization that deals with getting the message out about alcohol poisoning to teens and young adults. B.R.A.D. is: Be Responsible About Drinking, Inc) More Alcohol Deaths; Alcohol and Its Effects: Education for College Students; List of Children who Have Died of Alcohol/Drug PoisoningNo One Is Keeping Track of Alcohol Deaths; Another College Student dies; Nick Trout Drinks "For Fun", Dies.)
Alcohol Overdose
Sometimes when a person drinks too much, they pass out. This is the body’s way of protecting itself by not allowing the person to drink more. But when someone drinks a lot of alcohol very quickly, they may not pass out in time, and may drink enough to cause them to slip into a coma and die (alcohol overdose).
Symptoms Of Alcohol Overdose
- severe vomiting or vomiting while "sleeping" or passed out and not waking up after vomiting
- not responding to being talked to or shouted at
- not responding to being pinched, shaken, or poked
- being unable to stand
- not responding to efforts to be awoken
- slow and laboured breathing
- turning a purplish color or having cold, clammy skin
- having a rapid pulse rate
DON'T TAKE CHANCES WHEN A LIFE IS AT STAKE.
If you see any of these symptoms in someone who has been drinking, get medical help as soon as possible.
What To Do
- Call an ambulance.
- Roll the person on their side into the recovery position so they will not choke if they vomit.
- Do not leave the person alone. Stay with them and monitor their breathing until medical help arrives.
If you are not sure what to do, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. GET HELP if you suspect an alcohol overdose, even if the person is underage.
Michael was a very good friend of mine. He played golf at southlake christian academy where my dad was the coach. He was an amazing guy and very loved. He will always be loved and greatly missed.
Posted by: Kaitlyn Joseph | Monday, April 14, 2008 at 08:46 AM