December 6, 2016, Canton, MI – The mother of a local 34-year old male who died from a Fentanyl overdose is praising the efforts of law enforcement.
Terri Young stated prior to her son’s battle with Heroin, Andrew Kocoloski, was a commendable student and person. In 2000, Andrew was Captain of Plymouth Salem’s Football and Basketball teams. He went on to play four years of football for Albion College where he was also nominated as Captain and MVP his senior year, while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average.
Last year, after battling a heroin addiction in and out of rehab, Andrew’s lost his life to the disease. On December 12, 2015, Andrew arranged to obtain heroin from an acquaintance/friend as he had some several times in the past. Andrew later returned to his Canton residence and overdosed sometime during the night.
In the morning Andrew’s mother, Terri, found her son unconscious and called 9-1-1. Canton Police and Fire responded to the home, where he was pronounced dead on the scene. Police observed evidence of drug use, which was later confirmed by the Medical Examiner who stated the cause of death was Fentanyl overdose.
Canton police officers began an investigation into the events leading up to Kocoloski’s death. Detectives were able to trace his steps back to the deadly drug transaction, identifying two suspects who police submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for a warrant recommendation.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office approved a felony charge of Delivery of a Controlled Substance Causing Death, punishable by up to life imprisonment, against Eric Casey Rose, 30, and Megan Elizabeth Hicks, 25, both from Livonia.
Rose and Hicks pled guilty to the charges in Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court. Rose was sentenced to 42 months minimum/15 years maximum, and Hicks was sentenced to 18 months minimum/15 years maximum.
Terri Young praises the Canton Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for their efforts in taking these two suspects off the street. She acknowledges her son’s addiction, and its all-consuming effects. She wants to pass along to the public that this disease does not discriminate, and that she cannot stress enough her message of never starting or experimenting with opiates of any kind—as she watched her son pay the ultimate price with his life.
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