Questions linger as case closes

Despite remaining questions, investigators will close the case of Chris Giacherio, who died last month from an overdose of cocaine and alcohol.

Toxicology reports from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner's office conflict earlier reports that the LSA sophomore had taken heroin within 24 hours of his death, Ann Arbor Police Lieutenant Jim Tieman said.

"The medical examiner has named it an accidental death by a combination of those two" drugs, Tieman said.

Giacherio was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend's home located at 909 Packard Rd. on Sept. 15.

Emergency medical personnel were unable to revive him.

Witnesses originally told AAPD investigators Giacherio had taken heroin earlier in the evening, Tieman said. But later, they changed their story and said he was using cocaine.

"It bothered us that people were telling us something and it wasn't showing up in the toxicology report," Tieman said.

Giacherio was not alone at the time of his death, Tieman said.

At least two other people were in the apartment although they were probably asleep.

The two witnesses admitted to taking drugs with Giacherio, Tieman said, but will not be prosecuted because there is no evidence of their actions.

"The only evidence we have that they were using (cocaine) is their word," Tieman said. The witnesses removed all residual evidence of drug use before AAPD officials arrived, he added.

The medical examiner's reports will now be sent to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office for review, Tieman said.

It is unlikely criminal charges will be made against the two witnesses because "no one forced Giacherio to take the drugs."

The investigation will be closed, Tieman said, but some questions will remain unanswered.

"I'm still curious to why people would tell me one thing ... and that couldn't be found in his body," Tieman said.

It is possible Giacherio was taking a "fake drug" or substance that had been sold to him as heroin, Tieman said.

"Not all drug dealers have scruples," Tieman said.

Marijuana and cocaine are the most prominent drugs in the Ann Arbor area, Tieman said.

"Our undercover officers are constantly making purchases of it," Tieman said. "Ann Arbor is not immune from drug use."

In September, the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association began a task force to examine the environment of the Greek community in relation to alcohol abuse.

"The reason alcohol abuse has been taken into the forefront is because it is a nationwide problem," said Kinesiology senior Bradley Holcman, IFC's president. "A lot of people see alcohol as not a drug."

Programs on drug abuse are not required by IFC, Holcman said. Individual fraternity chapters are responsible for educating their members about substance abuse.

"Ninety-five to 100 percent do address the problem," Holcman said. "But they don't go through an intensive three-day program about drug abuse."

Holcman said the council doesn't sponsor speakers to lecture specifically on drug abuse.

"We bring in people for the broad range," Holcman said.

The University's division of Student Affairs formed a binge-drinking task force this year in response to incidents across the country involving excessive drinking on college campuses.

Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford said the University attempts to inform students about the effects of all drugs.

"The information that we have on substance abuse on campus indicates alcohol and marijuana are the drugs students are most likely to use," Hartford said.

University programs focuses on alcohol education because alcohol abuse can lead to harder drugs, Hartford said.

"I don't think that people start using hard drugs immediately," Hartford said.

Rose Giacherio, Chris' mother, submitted a letter to University administrators concerning her son's drug abuse and "downward spiral" that began with alcohol abuse, Hartford said.

Giacherio's mother requested distribution of the letter to University students and University officials are currently discussing various printing options.

Hartford said alcohol-abuse education may also be more prominent because "the assumption is that the majority of our students are not using harder drugs."

Holcman said Zeta Psi, where Giacherio was a member, has recently inquired about joining the University's Interfraternity council.

"It does raise awareness about their fraternity," Holcman said. "Rush is the biggest element - it's really hard to rush on this campus without someone backing you."

In order for Zeta Psi to join the organization, the fraternity would have to present its reasons for wanting to join IFC and then a majority of campus fraternity presidents would need to approve the request.

If Zeta Psi joins the organization, it would be placed under the Greek community's alcohol policies.

11-02-98