OD OF METHADONE BLAMED FOR BOY'S DEATH

Toxicology tests have shown a 12-year-old Kamloops boy found dead in his
home last month died of a methadone overdose.

Keegan Bryce Gillespie was found dead on the living room floor of his Royal
Avenue home July 17. He did not wake up when his father discovered him
asleep and autopsy results show the boy aspirated vomit while sleeping.

Coroner Bob Graham said the results of toxicology tests show the boy
ingested a lethal amount of methadone.

Methadone is a powerful narcotic prescribed by a doctor as a heroin
alternative. It is used primarily by people battling heroin addiction.

The drug is mixed by a pharmacist and dispensed in orange juice.

It's not clear why Keegan ingested the methadone, whether he was suicidal
or simply experimenting with the drug. Trace amounts of marijuana were also
found in the boy's system although Graham said that could have come from
second-hand smoke.

The boy's death is being deemed accidental, added Graham.

It's believed the methadone was prescribed to Keegan's father, Cody
Sponaugle. Keegan's mother Sandy died of a heroin overdose in 1992.

The boy also had a history with the Ministry of Children and Family
Development. He had been taken from the home on numerous occasions and
placed into foster care but he was always returned to his father.

Cody Sponaugle could not be reached for comment. A woman close to the
family, who didn't wish to be named, is questioning why Keegan was allowed
to return home when officials knew his father was trying to overcome a
heroin addiction.

She is also critical of the methadone being accessible to Keegan.

"(The methadone) was in the house. Why was it in the house in the first
place?" said the woman.

She said the family, and in particular Keegan's father, has been 'torn
apart' by the boy's death, which she described as 'sad and unnecessary.'

"There was obvious drug abuse in the house. Why was (Keegan) even in the
house? It was just a bad situation all round," the woman added.

It's believed the family will meet with ministry officials at some point to
discuss the boy's death.

The B.C. children's commissioner is also investigating Keegan's death, as
it looks into all child deaths in the province.