ECSTACY LINKED TO TEEN DEATH

EAST HAMPTON -- East Hampton High School students on Wednesday were
mourning the death of fellow student Makayla Korpinen, which has been
linked to the use of Ecstasy.

Korpinen, a sophomore, was pronounced dead at around 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Sgt. Garritt
Kelly of the East Hampton Police Dept. said. The Stevenson Road teen,
hospitalized since Saturday, had been in very critical condition, he
said. Korpinen suffered medical distress associated with using a form
of Ecstasy at a weekend party, the sergeant added.

An autopsy Wednesday found that Korpinen died of complication of
intoxication. A spokesman in the medical examiner's office said the
substance has not been determined.

Korpinen had been at a house party in someone else's home on Friday,
Kelly said. Medical services were called around 11 a.m. Saturday, and
the teen was brought to Middlesex Hospital, the sergeant said. She
was subsequently flown by Life Star helicopter to the children's
hospital.

"The (police) investigation is in the early stages," Kelly said, but
officers have "first-hand witness accounts of the use."

"We're interviewing everybody that was at the party," he said. "There
were others using drugs, but no other medical issues. This is the
most severe scenario -- the only one resulting in a death."

Part of the criminal investigation is determining where she got the
drugs, Kelly said.

"All who knew Makayla said she was a very special person," School
Superintendent John DeGennaro said Wednesday. Counselors were
available at the school Wednesday, and will be there again today, he
said. "We're just deeply saddened."

"She had a beautiful spirit and was really a shining star in the
school," Principal Linda Berry said.

Students gathered outside the North Maple Street high school near
memorial rock, which honors students who have died in the school
community, she said. Poems were also read, and it was a chance for
students to reflect, Berry added. Ecumenical Council representatives
were also available Wednesday.

The flag was flown at half-staff and Taps was played during the
memorial program. Students were also able to write tributes to the
teen on papers posted around the school, Berry said.

"She had a nice group of friends. She was loyal to them and was a
good listener," Berry said. "She crossed a lot of social circles. She
had friends in the ninth to twelfth grades."

"At this point we're supporting the students and parents to focus on
helping them get through this," the principal said.

Ecstasy, also known as XTC or E, affects serotonin, a brain chemical
that regulates mood, emotion, sleep, appetite, memory and sexual
behavior. The drug typically induces feelings of euphoria, increased
energy and is also said to suppress the need to eat, drink or sleep,
making it possible to endure parties for two or three days.