Police investigating GHS student death

Saturday, December 15, 2007
Dietrich Jackson

The death of a Greencastle High School senior on Saturday morning is under investigation by Indiana State Police.

An autopsy is scheduled Monday for Dietrich Jackson, 17, who was found unresponsive at his grandmother's residence at 1290 E. CR 225 South, Greencastle.

Putnam County Coroner Thomas Miller told the BannerGraphic that Jackson had attended a party Friday night, and had returned to his grandmother's home where he was residing. When someone tried to wake up Jackson Saturday morning, he was unresponsive.

Operation Life ambulance personnel were called to the scene, and Greencastle firefighters were also called out at 10:38 a.m. Saturday to assist on the medical run.

The Indiana State Police were called in to investigate at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, and remained on the scene throughout the day.

Several friends of Jackson went to the scene after hearing the news of his death, Miller said, so Greencastle High School was contacted and the cafeteria was opened so that friends and relatives could gather to meet with counselors and clergy.

GHS assistant principal Russ Hesler said a statement is being prepared to read to students Monday, and counselors will be available.

Comments
View 10 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • I am so sad for this young mans life to end so soon. He was a fun and sweet kid. But we have a big problem in this town and Deitrich was a victim of this. We think we know what are children are doing but do you? Greencastle Highschool is so full of drugs your mouth would drop. Dietrich was a great kid and made one mistake and one was peer preasure, which is horrible here also. His family is in my thoughts and prayers and many will miss this young fun loving sweet young man. I hope the students and parents who think well just don't get caught attitude will wake up. What else does it take to make you adults realize, this isn't some little faze your child is going through. There are kids right now as we speak and does not matter the stereotype the brains, the jocks, the loners and clowns they are getting high they are popping pills and drinking. We need to bust they dealers who are former students themselves. Parents we must unite and stop this and protect our kids. Dietrich is gone we lost him and it's a shame. Maybe if we clean up the town of the dealers that sell this to our kids the children will have a chance. CVS has drug kits, Parents drug test your kids talk to them constanly they will listen I promise, don't let them hang out with the ones you know are. In the end your child will respect you and you will have saved your child.

    -- Posted by savethekids on Mon, Dec 17, 2007, at 2:48 PM
  • "savethekids" you are so on it. Parents have no idea what their kids are doing and they think they do. Don't assume your child is innocent. We definitely need to open our eyes get these dealers. Not just parents either.....this involves everyone in the community.

    -- Posted by indtonyc on Mon, Dec 17, 2007, at 2:54 PM
  • This is a tragic loss to say the least. I agree with the comments 100%.

    I'm a GHS graduate, and things like this happened when i was a student. I dont live in Greencastle anymore and haven't been back in 5 months but when i do come back, i always think "some things never change".

    I hate to say this but Greencastle has a lot of low life "adults" running around influencing the younger kids. Greencastle is a small town. 75% of the youth in town will never leave their bad influenced lives because they'll never know how big the world is. they'll stay in greencastle for the rest of their lives, never travel outside the state, never see what a bigger city has to offer, and bask in the small town boredom.

    I was a victim of this until i moved out of state for school and started traveling much more when i had the chance.

    In result kids are bored, their only option is to get high or get drunk and sit on a couch all night. this isn't just the parent's fault. Yes parents can be a better influence but it's also the kid's responsibility to not be so afraid to be themselves and say "no" to peer pressure.

    I was surrounded by booze and pot when i was in high school and never touched either of them. now that i'm of legal drinking age, i enjoy a beer on the weekends, but to look back on high school and know that i had "the balls" to say no, i feel like it has made me a better person.

    I'm not saying greencastle is a bad town by any means because it's not. it's the most ideal place to raise a family, but at the same time, we don't need to raise our kids with the idea that greencastle is all they've got.

    Greencastle needs something for young adults that isn't there right now. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something obviously lacking in their options of out of school activities.

    You can't point the finger at one person for this tragedy. It takes a series of decisions from multiple people to create a result. It's one person who makes the final decision, but the influence alone could force a bad decision to occur.

    You could blame the parents for letting Dietrich go to the party, you could blame Dietrich for going to the party, you could blame the person who threw the party, you could blame the ambulance for not being quick enough, you could blame the kids he was hanging out with that night.

    In the end, someone has to start taking responsibility or the problem will just get worse. i hope only for the best for everyone in greencastle that has been effected by this incident. it's horrible to think that it takes a situation like this to happen before people start opening their eyes and realizing the kind of mess we're living in these days.

    -- Posted by Pinkerton86 on Mon, Dec 17, 2007, at 4:24 PM
  • some of my classes I new him well enough to no that he had a good head on his shoulders and that he was going to college. It's a terrible loss that Dietrich had to die. Greencastle High School has taken his death really hard and everybody will miss him dearly, he's in our prayers and we'll never forget him. To Dietrich's family, I'm sorry for the loss and I think he didn't deserve to die.

    R.I.P Dietrich Jackson

    -- Posted by empressmeatloaf on Mon, Dec 17, 2007, at 6:49 PM
  • Dietrich was the kid in my class that always made everybody laugh, he had no enemies that I could think of and everybody loved him so much,I go to school with him and thats were it leads off to the other comment..

    -- Posted by empressmeatloaf on Mon, Dec 17, 2007, at 6:56 PM
  • I have read some of the other comments that have been posted and I do agree we have a problem with drugs in this world and definitly when its in our childrens schools, but in this case I feel the need to say I knew this bright, handsome, friendly and polite young man and in my heart i feel there was foul play, I am not convinced that Dietrich is one of these cases where the kids go to a party and drink and do drugs and over do it. He had other ways of getting high like on LIFE! And he seemed to be more of a leader not a follower so peer preasure really don't fit in this. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones and all others who had the opportunity to know Dietrich Jackson this is truely a great loss and i am very saddened about this.

    -- Posted by sweettee87 on Tue, Dec 18, 2007, at 1:16 AM
  • My heart goes out to Dietrich's family.

    -- Posted by ladycoltsfan on Tue, Dec 18, 2007, at 1:34 PM
  • savethekids has about the best comment that I read. I too am a graduate of Greencastle High School, but have moved from Greencastle. Unfortunately, the town has gone to nothing but drugs and alcohol and a lot of the blame does need to be put on the parents. Several people have the attitude "if my kids do it at home, it's not a big deal" That is nothing but crap! Tell your kids not to do it. Tell them why, make them respect you and they will listen. As far as Dietrich passing, it is a shame, and my thoughts are with his family. Hopefully this will be a wake up call to parents that are seemingly blind to what their children are doing, where they are, and who they are with. As far as what happened that night... it was ridiculous, irresponsible, and totally unnecessary. But everyone there knew that.

    -- Posted by lindseymichelle on Thu, Dec 20, 2007, at 4:51 PM
  • that was my onckle he was so close to my other onckles he was so nice and always put a smile on your face every time he came to my house he wouldnt pass me without giving me a hug it was a shock he was always so good never did anthing that bad that come to the point of death but i just half to say that theres not enuf words to say when your talkin about my onckle dietrick and even though hes gone u should still get to work and do your job im sure he would want that and lastly hes not alone hes with my grandapa randy robinson god jesus and just know hes not alone and no one will ever take that away from him I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU

    -- Posted by sunshinenap on Tue, Jan 15, 2008, at 5:02 PM
  • the comment under this one was from my 10 year old daughter. She was the child that came up and spoke at the funeral. we were cousins but my kids loved him and respected him so much that they ALWAYS call him Uncle Dietrich.

    -- Posted by sunshinenap on Tue, Jan 22, 2008, at 9:54 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: