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Investigation continues into GHS  student death

Tuesday, January 8, 2008
By JOSIE BODE, Staff Writer

Twenty-seven days have passed since family members discovered the body of 17-year-old Dietrich Jackson, yet police are releasing few details about their investigation into the death of the Greencastle High School senior.

An autopsy was performed on Dec. 17, 2007 but no cause of death was determined, pending toxicology results that were delivered to Putnam County Coroner Thomas Miller on Friday. According to Miller, he will prepare a full report this week and make at least portions of those results public on Jan. 14 or 15.

According to Miller, his office is conducting its own investigation into Jackson's death that is completely independent from that of law enforcement. Though the two agencies share information, Miller says the coroner's office is limited to determining a cause of death and his findings do not always reflect whether criminal charges are filed.

"My investigation is to document the truth and facts surrounding someone's death," the coroner said. "We need some answers, but we have not approached that yet because we don't want to affect the integrity of any law enforcement investigation."

Indiana State Police Detective Jeff Hearon was able to confirm that his department had received results from the toxicology report, but would not release any more information due to the ongoing investigation. Hearon says he is sensitive to community concern regarding the investigation and hopes to share more information at week's end.

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  • I strongly agree we need some answers and don't let this get pushed under a small town rug and Dietrich forgotten about with no justice served

    -- Posted by pageme369 on Wed, Jan 9, 2008, at 8:27 PM

  • I believe who was responsible to be held responsible. This town is entitled to know what happened without town officials dancing around like roosters. Please let us know what happend to this young man. He deserves better.

    -- Posted by cty-govt-a-muck on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 7:19 AM

  • Interesting question UhOH. You have been posting on every article as if you know what happened. Making comments about drug use, etc. and you don't know either.

    -- Posted by seekingtruth on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 12:03 PM

  • Dietrich deserves better then all these rumors going around. He was a friend of mine and people just asume things through what they "heard". Although some of you think the situation has been forgotten, it has not. And be aware that what you say about this affects the students at GHS and what they think of Dietrich. Be more considerate for the young people that are STILL hurting.

    -- Posted by listenup on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 12:49 PM

  • Dietrich is my cousin and for any of you posting comments like he was some dumb drug head kid know what your talking about before you make an *** out of yourself. Dietrich was smart he was gifted and he LOVED his family and his FAMILY loved him SO much. read comment from people that knew him not strangers with nothing else to do but comment on stuff they know nothing about. The guys that were with him that night have been caught up in many lies about what happenened that night. This isn't a RUMOR. Those "stories" kept changing in my face. WE WANT ANSWERS WE WANT THE TRUTH. what happens in the dark ALWAYS comes out in the light and we will get our answers. UhOhNoNo who are you? It seems like you're a little on the defense. What do you know huh? Or maybe YOU or one of YOUR family members are somehow involved.

    Dietrich we love you and we miss you and we will get justice if there was any foul play involved.

    -- Posted by sunshinenap on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 10:33 PM

  • Not an assumption. Simply two factual statements. That you don't know what happened, yet have posted comments on other articles talking about this case and drugs as if they are known to connected. So if you want to correct others and point out what they know or don't know, start with yourself. That's all. Very simple.

    -- Posted by seekingtruth on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 10:37 PM

  • Listenup - I agree with you. Nice post.

    -- Posted by seekingtruth on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 10:37 PM

  • Oh and UhOhNoNo why are you so worried about having "followers" and who thinks the way you think? The detectives need to find out who you are and investigate YOU! I'm sorry if i'm assuming but hey when you put yourself out there and you continue to keep posting comments it makes you look suspicious. I have always been a good judge of character and there is for sure something about you that raises an eyebrow. I'll let the detectives know that they should check the comment postings for the banner graphic.

    -- Posted by sunshinenap on Thu, Jan 10, 2008, at 10:42 PM

  • I have posted two other postings but i left a few things out. First of all I want to say to ANYONE that knows anything please don't be afraid to come forth and talk to the detectives and tell them the truth. It has been 4 weeks. We need closure and my cousin deserves nothing less than for the truth to come out and justice be served. Don't just feel like oh well it's been a month now it's over because it's not. Those that knew Dietrich know that he was one of a kind. If he was a friend to you you will never find another like him. I bet you never got in a fight with him or even argued with him because that just wasn't what he was about. My children are so torn from this and one day my 6 yr old son said"I'm still mad mom" and I asked him what's wrong and he said"because Dietrich is gone forever and he didn't deserve to die he was too young and he NEVER DID NOTHING TO ANYBODY, he was always nice to EVERYBODY". That 's so true because he didn't he was always so caring so full of life and always smiling. He had goals and ambition. He made plans with Ricky to go on to college together. I just know if he was given the chance he was going to accomplish so much. but all of that was taken away and for what? We miss him so much words just can't begin to fully express it. We love you D we love you and we miss you so much. We won't rest until we know the truth.... Dietrich..... love you

    -- Posted by sunshinenap on Sun, Jan 13, 2008, at 10:19 AM

  • i dont think assumptions are necessary!!! the truth will come out. Its a small town and you can only let guilt build up so much before its too much to handle. So, for those of you making assumptions really need to stop!!

    -- Posted by bigfella on Fri, Jan 18, 2008, at 11:19 PM

  • And... Just to let you know, I knew dietrich... He was a great kid, but he wasnt perfect. i know for a fact he wasnt perfect. so cousin of dietrichs if you knew him as well as you think you did you would know that everyone makes mistakes and he did too. So no need for assumptions and im sure he did stuff that you didnt know about

    -- Posted by bigfella on Fri, Jan 18, 2008, at 11:22 PM

  • If there were several teens involved with the circumstances surrounding and leading up to D.J.'s death that horrible night, then why has only one teen been arrested? They all seemed to have played a part/roll in everything that took place from what I read in the Banner? Is just the one teen being singled out to be made an example of??

    Or did the others sell him down the river to save their own hides and they walk free? Why have we not heard anything further regarding the other boys involved?? And now, we hear that Sheriff Frisbe lets Scottie Hoover become a trustee at the jail after having only been there no time!! If the jail is over crowded as the Sheriff states, I'm sure inmates that have been there a lot longer than Hoover have requested trustee status and certainly would have been ahead of Hoover. Something just "stinks" with all this! To the family of D.J., don't allow this to be swept under the rug! Fight for D.J.'s justice. My heart goes out to D.J.'s family.

    -- Posted by Chilltown on Fri, Jan 18, 2008, at 11:45 PM

  • big fellow no where on any of alllllllll these articles have i got the impression his cousin presented him as perfect your late in the game boo boo

    -- Posted by pageme369 on Sat, Jan 19, 2008, at 8:40 AM

  • ok but why make assumptions on other people when its his fault just as much as the others. He knew the consequence of the pills. Im sure he knew what alcohol would do to add to the whole mix. so its not like he was a little kid experiencing something new. no im not just blaming him. As a matter of fact i dont think there blaming enough high school students in the whole thing. there were more than just 1, i can guarantee that!!!

    -- Posted by bigfella on Sat, Jan 19, 2008, at 10:16 AM

  • Again, with no disrespect to the greiving family--I ask--what about the responsibility of the young man who killed himself by taking these drugs and alcohol??????No one shoved these in him!!!He made a choice to consume these things!!!!and by the way--I do have a 20 yr old that has graduated High School and is currently in college--again these are the choices that each and every one of us make of our own accord(unless you are a metally disabled/challenged person)There is concern and retribution that should be paid by the people who witnessed his need for medical attention!!!

    -- Posted by kimap on Sat, Jan 19, 2008, at 2:10 PM
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