TEEN DRUG DEATHS BRING A SOMBER PROMISE

County Attorney Jim Reams sees the March death of 18-year-old Caitlyn
Brady as an example of the need to stop drugs from coming into
Rockingham County.

"With Interstate 95, Interstate 93 and Route 125 drugs are coming out
of Massachusetts and into New Hampshire," Reams said during a press
conference Sept. 1. "There is a constant flow of drugs into New Hampshire."

Reams hosted a press conference at the Rockingham County Superior
Court to discuss the cases of Brady of Kingston, who died in March
from a heroin overdose, and Ryan Scamman-Rawson, 18, of Stratham, who
died in April after swallowing Oxycodone and overdosing.

The men allegedly involved in the deaths of both teens were indicted
last month and face a possible penalty of life in prison.

Brady's boyfriend Dante Silva, 21, of 48 Highland St., Newton was
indicted on charges of dispensing a controlled drug -- death
resulting, and falsifying physical evidence.

Brady died March 15 of a heroin overdose at Silva's home. After she
died Silva allegedly took the drugs from the scene to hide them from
the authorities.

According to court papers he "knowingly, dispensed a quantity of the
controlled drug heroin to Caitlyn Brady, and subsequently, said heroin
was injected into, or ingested by, Caitlyn Brady, resulting in her
death."

Reams alleged that Silva took the heroin and syringes from the scene
at his Highland Street home and threw them in a Dumpster several miles
away in Plaistow.

Robert Drew, 22, of 6 Towle Road, Kingston was indicted on a charge of
accomplice to dispensing controlled drug -- death resulting.

A third individual, Jay Simes, 23, of 9 Old Coach Road, Kingston was
arrested on drug charges and in connection with the death of Caitlyn
Brady.

According to Reams, Drew drove the car in which Simes rode to
Massachusetts to purchase the heroin.

Court papers say that Drew "then drove Simes to a location where Simes
sold said controlled drug to Dante Silva, and said drug was dispensed
to Caitlyn Brady, and subsequently said heroin was injected into, or
ingested by Caitlyn Brady, resulting in her death."

Each could face a life sentence that Reams describes as the
Legislature's way of condemning drugs that kill.

Kingston Police Chief Donald W. Briggs Jr., Newton Police Chief Larry
Streeter, East Kingston Police Chief Reid Simpson and Stratham Lt.
Richard Wood were present at the press conference. Briggs said the
investigation is continuing.

Asked by reporters if authorities were still looking for other
suspects in the Brady case, Reams replied "Drug investigations start
with the person who you arrest and then you work your way back through
the chain. If we could we would go all the way back to the person who
grew it. We will hold anyone accountable in the chain."

The investigation into both teenagers' deaths were conducted by the
Kingston Police, Newton Police, East Kingston Police, the Attorney
General's Drug Task Force, Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
(ATF), members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the
Rockingham County Sheriff's Department.

The investigations started independently of each other, and
authorities spent the last five to six months pursuing them. Briggs
said the investigation into Silva's activities started before Brady's
death.

"Families were concerned their children would be forgotten by law
enforcement after they were buried. It's a difficult investigation
because there aren't many leads or evidence. Thousands of hours went
into the investigation," Reams said.

In 2005, the New Hampshire Medical Examiner's Office reported 153
drug-related deaths. In 2006, as of June, the state's drug-related
deaths were about 52.

"The deaths of these 18-year-old kids in New Hampshire are an example
of how deadly and dangerous drugs can be," Reams said. "Kids, young
people think they want to experiment with drugs. This poison can and
will kill you. Unfortunately, we had two graphic results and deaths in
Rockingham County. This can't continue. Drug deaths in New Hampshire
are growing."

Dick Gerrish of the Timberlane/Sanborn Drug Free Community Coalition
and Sad Cafe is a neighbor of the Brady family. Gerrish has been
fighting for tougher penalties of drug dealers and enforcement for
several years.

"We have to educate the public and our representatives of the
problem," Gerrish said. "They are unaware of the program."

In the case of Scamman-Rawson, the authorities arrested and indicted
Anthony Damelio, 62, of 20 Cove Road, East Kingston on charges of
dispensing a controlled drug -- death resulting.

According to court papers, "Anthony Damelio knowingly dispensed a
quantity of the controlled drug Oxycodone to Ryan Scamman-Rawson, and
subsequently, Scamman-Rawson ingested said controlled drug, resulting
in his death." Damelio also faces a potential life sentence.