Pubdate: Sat, 24 Nov 2001
Source: The Patriot Ledger (MA)
Website: http://ledger.southofboston.com/
Address: Post Office Box 699159, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9159
Contact:  2001 The Patriot Ledger
Fax: (617) 786-7393
Author: Jim Daly

MASS. COLLEGE OF PHARMACY TO INVESTIGATE DRUG DEATHS

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy says it will investigate whether any 
of its students were involved in the deaths of two Framingham State College 
students.

Eric Tyner, 20, of Plymouth, and Andrew D. Botti-Marino, 18, of Sturbridge, 
both died of apparent drug overdoses at a Mission Hill apartment Tuesday.

According to published reports, the two may have smoked marijuana laced 
with a lethal chemical. Boston police would not confirm that Friday, saying 
the matter remains under investigation.

Dan Osgood, who lived in the apartment, called Boston police at about 6 
p.m. Tuesday to report a drug-related emergency. He said one of the men was 
in cardiac arrest.

Tyner, who graduated from Plymouth South High School with honors, was 
visiting a high school friend who lived at the apartment. The friend is 
reportedly studying pharmacology, possibly at the College of Pharmacy.

Robert Wholmes Jr., vice-president of legal affairs for the college, said 
students would be punished if found to be involved.

Tyner, who was a sophomore at Framingham State College, worked summers and 
weekends as an interpreter at Plimoth Plantation village. He had been 
scheduled to work on Thanksgiving and this weekend.

An end-of-the-year celebration at the village scheduled for Sunday night 
has been canceled. Instead, a memorial service for Tyner will be held at 7 
p.m. Sunday. A reception will follow in the Plimoth Plantation visitors' 
center.

Framingham State College plans a memorial service for both students on Dec. 
3 at 1:30 p.m.

Peter Chisholm, assistant to the president of the college, said students 
who haven't heard about the tragedy will be told on Monday, and counseling 
will be available. "It's a very sad time for the college. From what I 
understand, the two young men were very good students."

Chisholm said Tyner had transferred into the college this fall. He said 
Tyner and Botti-Marino, a freshman, were not roommates, but both lived on 
campus in Linsley Hall.

Boston police refused comment yesterday.

"There's nothing new in the case," said Boston police officer John Boyle.

Autopsies performed on the two students' bodies Wednesday found no visible 
signs of trauma.

Boston police spokeswoman Brigitte Walsh said toxicology reports on the 
case could take weeks, and that her department can not comment further 
until the investigation is complete.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth