Jacob Jordan Sigalas, 14, died of Alcohol Poisoning

Leslie Cruise, 36, bought a bunch of booze for some teens so that they could "party".  The youngest,  Sigalas, died, and Cruise buried the body.  There was also evidence of sexual battery.

My condolences to Sigalas's family and friends.

Body identified and arrest made in death of 14-year-old boy

Associated Press

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - A body found in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Jackson County has been identified as that of a missing 14-year-old boy and authorities say they have made an arrest in the case.

The discovery was made Wednesday off Marsh Island Drive in the Gulf Park Estates community. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said a resident found the freshly dug grave.   The body of Jacob Jordan Sigalas of Pascagoula was identified Thursday. Authorities have charged a convicted felon with capital murder in Sigalas' death.

Leslie Evan Cruise, 36, was arrested while doing construction work a few blocks from where Sigalas' body was found on property that once was the Pine Islands golf course.

Officials used dental records and a scar on Sigalas' arm to positively identify him. An autopsy performed early Thursday showed that Sigalas died of alcohol poisoning, probably the same night investigators said he was last seen alive at Cruise's home in Gautier.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said Cruise also is accused of sexual battery, the underlying felony that allowed authorities to charge him with capital murder. Cruise allegedly bought vodka, whiskey and other alcohol that Sigalas and two friends, ages 17 and 18, apparently consumed the night of March 4, authorities said.

Sigalas met his friends at Singing River Mall in Gautier. Authorities said Cruise allegedly met the teens at the mall and drove them to his home.  The two teens later told authorities they left Sigalas at Cruise's home the night of his disappearance because he had passed out from the alcohol.

That's the last time anyone else saw Sigalas alive, though Cruise initially told officials that he had driven Sigalas to Pascagoula and dropped him off, authorities said.  "(Cruise) got with them, bought them some booze and the (Sigalas) boy just drank too much," Byrd said. "We believe that he (Cruise) panicked and disposed of the body."

Sonya Bartholomew, the mother of Jacob Sigalas, said Cruise came to her home two days after her 14-year-old son vanished and she had a feeling he had something to do with his disappearance. "He kept his head down the whole time he was talking to us. I knew then there was something wrong," Bartholomew said.

Cruise has served time in the state penitentiary for burglary and grand larceny, court records show. Jackson County Judge Larry Wilson denied bond for Cruise during an initial appearance late Thursday afternoon.

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It's been nearly three weeks since 14 year old Jacob Sigalas disappeared in Gautier. His mother dropped the teen off at the mall on March 5th to meet friends. It was the last time she saw him.

His mother says after the mall outting, the friends went to a party. There was drinking there, Sigalas passed out, and his friends left, she said.

Gautier police have found no signs of the teen, so Thursday, a mother desparate for answers, formed her own search party.

"Tomorrow it'll be three weeks my son's been gone," Sonya Bartholomew said as she peered into the thick wooded area near the house where her son was last seen. "Just sitting at home waiting. I can't take much more of this."

A disturbing and anonymous phone call, prompted Sonya Bartholomew and a group of friends to search the woods along the train tracks on Old Spanish Trail. That's the area where her son Jacob was last seen.

"Said they heard a lot of screaming going on the night my son disappeared, blood curdling screams. Somebody was getting hurt bad out here in these woods," said Bartholomew. "One of them loaded a shotgun and come out, and he got scared cause of all the screaming, turned around and went back inside, but didn't call the law or nothing."

Not long after Jacob disappeared, his mother had a gut feeling her son wasn't coming home. "My son's not alive anymore. It's just a matter of finding him," says Bartholomew. "I want to find him. I want closure. I have to find my son."

Gautier detectives have run down every lead they've received, including combing these same woods. But so far, they've come up with very little solid evidence. "I'm going to go til I find something," said Bartholomew. The wooded area along the tracks is thick with underbrush and vines. "We're looking for anything," says Bartholomew. "Anything that'll give us a clue as to where he might be."

Making a thorough search in the area is physically difficult and emotionally draining. After two hours of walking the woods, this distraught mother found no more clues, and worst of all, no more hope.

"Fourteen years old, he's a baby," said Bartholomew. "He's not even had his life. I want my youngin home."
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Jacob Sigalas' mother dropped her son off to meet friends at the mall. She never dreamed it might be the last time she saw him. That was the night of March 4th.

The 14-year-old has been listed as a missing person for two weeks now, and Gautier Police haven't had much luck finding leads in the case.

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It's been 17 days since Sonya Bartholomew saw her son Jacob or had a decent   night's sleep.   

   "I just sit and stare at the walls when I go to bed just   hoping and praying," Bartholomew says.  She's been praying for her son's safe return since she dropped him off at   the mall to meet friends.  "He met up with three other people and they went to a party at this guy's house," Bartholomew. "They told me they left around midnight."

According to his friends, Jacob had passed out, so they decided to leave   without him.   

"They left my son passed out on a bed in the bedroom at this guy's house and that's the last time my son was seen," says Bartholomew.

  Detective Scott Wilson with the Gautier Police Department says investigators are following up on several leads, but so far have had little luck. Wilson says they have received anonymous calls from people who claim to have seen Jacob, but so far nothing has panned out.

The case is still being handled strictly as a missing person. But after 17 days of uncertainty, Sigalas's family is beginning to fear the worst

 

"I don't feel like my son's alive," says Bartholomew. "I really don't. I mean, I know my boy. He didn't run away. He's missing. He would've done called home or went to his sister or something.

The most recent pictures Sigalas has of Jacob are stilled images taken from a friend's video camera. She hopes someone will recognize her son and call the police  Although she's beginning to lose hope, Bartholomew wanted to send a message to her son, just in case he's listening.

 

"Come home. I can't handle much more of this," says Bartholomew. "I've tried to cope with it, but it's hard to do. Ya know, you wake up and your child's gone. Nobody's seen him, heard from him. I just, I want my son home."

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Pascagoula teen remains missing; family fears rise   Friday, March 11, 2005

PASCAGOULA -- The family of a Pascagoula boy missing since March 4 continue to look for answers regarding his whereabouts and are fearing the worst.

Sonya Bartholomew said she has learned this week that her son, Jacob Sigalas, 14, was last seen at a house on Old Spanish Road in Gautier about midnight last Friday and had talked to his girlfriend about 10:30 that night.  Tips that Jacob was near railroad tracks in the area turned out to be false and Bartholomew said the family has been frustrated by numerous bogus calls

Along with their friends, Jacob's family has used dogs to search the railroad tracks and woods in the area, but Bartholomew said she fears her son is dead.

"We have been to anybody and everybody Jacob knows. My son disappeared," a distraught Bartholomew said Thursday.

Gautier police are handling the investigation.

Jacob was last seen wearing blue jeans, blue tennis shoes and a gray shirt, but those clothes were washed at a Gautier house, his mother said, and Jacob is wearing a different outfit.

Jacob is 5-foot-6, weighs about 120 pounds, has short, reddish-brown hair and green eyes and has bad asthma, his mother said.

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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 Mission: 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. 

Kimberly Ostien's memorial foundation: "With binge drinking on the rise, we feel it necessary to get the message out on the danger of alcohol, especially excessive alcohol consumed in a short period of time.  Students are educated on drugs and alcohol but they will continue to experiment no matter what.  We want to educate on what to do when a friend falls down or passes out from drinking.  Often we want to put that person to bed to sleep it off and that is when the trouble can begin."  The card lists the information, above.

Comments

[Lori]

I am so sorry for Jacob.My 15 1/2 died of the same thing because they left her in the woods knowing how sick she was.It's been 5 and half year's and they still walk free he refused a Polography even lied to the police to where he left her.My prayers are with you this is a awful pain.

[BEWARE]

I was not seventeen, and I was drinking right alongside you, but when I started to pass out our other friend was staying the night at my house, and knew my mom would want me home. I was so afraid of her seeing how drunk I had gotten I tried to walk home. The only reason they thought you were screaming is because I stumbled out to the train tracks, and fell face down into the water. I started drowning, and I was screaming for someone to help me. You were inside asleep at that point. I hope that that was how you died...in dreams...where that bastard could not touch you.

I wish I wouldn't have left you there. I wish I would have been sober enough to have stopped it from happening. I should have been screaming for someone to help you, but there was no way we could have known that you were anything but asleep. If I had known you were dying of alcohol poisoning we would have called an ambulance man. At least you don't have to deal with this kind of world anymore. You were headed to a much better place than your mother's trailer, and I think you knew that when you left.

Where was child services to take you and your little brothers and sisters away from that miserable woman?

I know that you forgive me. I've spoken with you often since then, but I have never learned my lesson, and I still drink myself into a stupor where I can sometimes hear your voice and see you watching me....for all of you that would say "some" friends...

Some people you are. Avengers? Avenge him by calling a drug task force to raid his mother's home, and save his siblings that are still young enough to be saved from that kind of life, but I guess you won't. You didn't save jacob when he was a child, and I did not save him that night. I was a fifteen year old drunk. What's your excuse?

[jennifer sigalas]

Jacob sigalas was my brother the guy that did what he did to my brother was a homosexual jacob was a good kid but a follower he just wante friends and people to like him his friends were friends of leslie cruz they talked him imto leaving the mall and going to a house party got him drunk and left him from what we were told leslie cruz tried to force his self on jacob sexually jacob tried to fight back he was then dead then striped and buried I believe he then sexually battered my brother before the man buried him, I also believe that my brothers two friends shouldn't have left a 14 yr boy with a gay 37 old man our family will never get the truth from my brothers 2 friends that were suppose to been there and who knows maybe they were I also believe it was alcohol alone,that killed him or,those,men,would have,called 911 instead of,burying his naked body they were covering up wat they did to my brother jacob would have been 21 this june,the man that,done,what he done to my brother deserves,the death penalty but I feel there no justice anymore

[jennifer sigalas]

As far as u tommy my mom was and still a good mom you were a horrible friend and told him to tell our mom he was staying with u so he was suppose to ride home with u from the mall he followed u as u got him to ride in leslie car and yall told him yall were going to a house party it would be fun and then u and chris abandoned him and left him with ur gay friend who took my brothers life my mom doesn't and has never done drugs and when u made,up a story also cuz at the time he was murdered she had an 8 bdrm house in pascagoula she has 14 children 12 surviving and if yall wouldn't have gotton him in to that situation and then abandoned him with ur gay friend drunk maybe when he forced hiself on jake he could have fought back and still be alive today I hope ur guilt eats away at u and as far as his family life we loved him very much he wanted friends and u decietful jerk his friends cost him his life and u are pathetic u should blame,urself and do not disresect his family we tried to keep him away from people like u and u deserve to look st urself in the mirror everyday and see what u caused to happen to a 14yr old boy looking to be accepted by the same friends that got him killed