Posted on 03/03/2008 3:05:18 PM PST by Ready2go
Exclusive: Mysterious Deaths Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 ; 06:11 PM Updated Friday, February 29, 2008 ; 10:22 PM
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Three West Virginia military men die within a three week period, but they weren't at war when they lost their lives. Share your reaction
Story by Sara Gavin Email | Bio | Other Stories by Sara Gavin
CHARLESTON -- The last time Janette Layne saw her husband Eric was January 24th.
"He would normally stay up watching TV at night because it was hard for him to sleep and I went ahead and went to bed. The next morning when I got up, I found him on the couch, he was in the same position he was in when he went to sleep and he was already gone," Layne said.
A soldier from Cross Lanes, Eric Layne left behind an 18-month old son and a baby girl on the way.
Meanwhile, Logan County resident Cheryl Endicott's son Nicholas died January 29th while being treated at a military hospital in Bethesda.
He too reportedly went to bed and never woke up.
"They told me that at 10:55, they entered his room, he was non-responsive, had no pulse so they deceased him right then and there," said Endicott.
Finally, on February 12th Stan and Shirley White lost their son Andrew, another Kanawha County service member who stopped breathing in his sleep. For the Whites, it was the second son they said goodbye too. Robert White died while serving in Afghanistan.
"You're always expecting and fearing when your children are at war that they're not going to make it back. They don't come back and lie in their bed, go to sleep and die. That doesn't happen. That's not supposed to happen," Stan White said.
Each family heard about the others' tragedies and eventually compared stories.
All three men were in their 20s, served in Iraq and died in their sleep within a three-week period, but that's only the beginning of the similarities.
Each military man was being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and had started exhibiting the same strange behavior and symptoms.
"Excessive weight gain, anger management disturbed sleep patterns, tremors," White said.
The young men were each taking a number of prescription drugs before they died, but the combination they all had in common includes Paxil, Klonopin and Seroquel.
Their families are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests, but say the questions don't end there.
"Are these three medications -- is there any connection with the three of them? Did those three react? Or is there some foreign substance these guys picked up overseas?" said White.
The families all live within about an hour of each other, and have now banded together for support and to search collectively for answers.
They decided to share their stories to try to prevent others from experiencing the same loss.
"It was supposed to be a new beginning for us. We had plans. We had a lot to live for," said Layne.
The families of the two marines and one soldier sent a letter to Senator Jay Rockefeller's office explaining their stories and their concerns.
A representative from Rockefeller's office says the Senator is very interested in finding out more about the situation.
The families also want to make people aware of a new organization called West Virginia Friends of Veterans that intends to help other military members and their families.
The number for that organization is (304) 881-2764. You can also e-mail wvfov@yahoo.com.
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I hope this is investigated properly. A very serious matter.
I hope so too...sounds very odd.
Mixing drugs is always risky. Bet they find that two, or maybe all three, mixed together creates a chemical that interferes with the nervous system and slows repiration until the victim dies simply from not being able to breathe.
probably those little white pills.
Hopefully this will make folks aware of a problem that might be taking the meds.
Could be a number of explanations, but it sounds as if the medications need investigation, at least: “The young men were each taking a number of prescription drugs before they died, but the combination they all had in common includes Paxil, Klonopin and Seroquel.”
Is one of these drugs, or the combination, dangerous? Is there perhaps some impurity in one of these drugs, from China?
I certainly hope they will investigate.
Senator Jay Rockefeller says he is “very interested.” Kind of an odd reaction, but typical of that jerk.
Agree with others here. At first glance, the meds seem to be the first component that should be investigated.
I wonder if all the posters who weighed in on Heathcliff Ledger’s death and declared it suicide will have the courage of their convictions and post similar thoughts here?
Thanks for posting!!!
Will have my son check with the local VA about these and drugs he may be taking.
Your welcome ASOC...these families are trying to get the warning out to the folks!
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Folks please help keep this bumped to the top for the military families that haven’t read it yet...thanks!
Bump!
I read that Klonopin reacts with alcohol.
Thanks Lucy Jo, according to the news tonight...this story is starting to draw attention as to what may be causing the strange deaths.
Let’s keep it bumped so others can see it.
Thanks
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