The mother and grandmother of the 16-year-old Akron boy who last month died from a heroin overdose at a Green hotel were indicted Tuesday on charges that they provided the teen the fatal drug.
Heather Frye, 31, of Akron, was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; child endangering, a third-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, in connection with the April 6 death of her son Andrew Frye.
Andrew’s maternal grandmother, Brenda Frye, 52, of Akron, was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and heroin trafficking, a fourth-degree felony.
The Summit County medical examiner ruled that the teen died from injecting heroin.
“Nothing can better make the point of how senseless these deaths are than that of a 16 year old boy who dies from drugs provided by his mother and grandmother,” Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said. “In a case as sad and senseless as this one, we continue to search for solutions and we will make sure that every dealer who preys on our community is held accountable.”
Heather Frye’s friend, Jessica Irons, 34, of Stow, also was indicted on charges of third-degree involuntary manslaughter; reckless homicide, a third-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony; and contributing to the delinquency of a child, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Donald Callaghan, 58, of Akron, was indicted on a charge of heroin possession. He has been identified as Brenda Frye’s boyfriend.
All four are scheduled to arraigned in Summit County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Investigators determined that Fry’s mother, her friend Irons and Brenda Fry were are all in the hotel room prior to Andrew’s death.
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies said that the heroin Andrew used was obtained from Callahan.