Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2003
Source: Times Democrat (OH)
Contact:  2003, Brown Publishing Company, Inc.
Website: http://www.newsdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2886
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH CAN WREAK HAVOC ON FAMILY LIFE

Accident Leads To Death Of Two People

Cheryl Emerson and her three children have been given a new lease on life.
Cheryl was married to a longtime drug addict and methamphetamine abuser. Her
oldest son, Chris Jr., was living with his father when a meth lab, that
later claimed two lives, exploded.

It started in high school, according to Emerson. Chris Purdin was a habitual
marijuana user. At the time when she married him, she didn't know he was a
drug user.

"I found out later from some of his family that he used marijuana," she
said. "I'm not sure when he started using meth; but he had always been into
the drug scene."

Emerson said her ex-husband's life revolved around the friends he hung
around with and the new drugs they were always trying. Purdin was in a car
accident in 1988 and broke his neck. While recovering, Purdin and his
friends started habitually using pills and painkillers.

"He just wanted to party all of the time," said Emerson, who now lives in
another state and has remarried. "He always had people over partying and
things like that. It made it really hard to live with him."

After nine-and-a-half years of ultimatums, Emerson left Purdin in 1996.
Chris Jr. stayed "to help take care of his dad." Dusty and Bethany went with
Emerson to start over.

After Emerson left, things went downhill for the elder Purdin. He got into
heavier drugs and brought his three children closer to that world. Neither
Emerson nor Chris Jr. know when, exactly, Purdin began using meth.

"One time, my middle child, Dusty, asked me if there were any white drugs,"
said Emerson. "I asked him why, and he told me that he had seen a baggie of
white powder that had fallen out of a laundry basket while he had all of the
kids in the car with him. I told him about cocaine. He said Chris (Sr.) had
just taken it and put it into the glove compartment. There were lots of
stories like that. He'd put them in harm's way and not think anything about
it.

"He'd have the kids there and he would have parties -- there would be people
passed out all over the place. It seemed like every time you turned around,
he'd be into something new and it was always with the same 'friends.'"

Chris Jr. concealed his father's activities from his mother, the authorities
and from other family members.

"He would always lie to protect his dad," said Emerson. "He was very
protective of him and thought he could do no wrong. He knew a lot more of
what was going on, but wouldn't tell anyone. But before the last time he
went back up to be with his dad, Chris pleaded with me to let him stay with
me. But I told him he needed to finish school and then we would see about
getting him moved in with me over the summer."

"I was constantly worried about him (his father)," said Chris Jr. "He looked
really pale and was not eating at all. He was sleeping all the time or not
sleeping at all. I begged him to stop, but he wouldn't. I don't think he
could stop -- couldn't stop doing drugs or stop making drugs."

On May 29, 2001, Purdin's luck ran out.

While "cooking" a batch of methamphetamine, something went wrong and the lab
exploded.

"There was a boom," said Chris Jr. "I saw my dad. It was - it was like he
was dead. He wasn't moving. He wasn't breathing. I thought my life was over
and his life, too. It was horrifying."

Purdin and another participant, Chester Wyatt, were taken by helicopter to
separate hospitals for their injuries.

Chris Jr. said those moments were the scariest of his life.

"It was really tough for me to see him like that in the hospital. I really
look up to him. He was only kind of half-there."

Chris Jr. went back to live with his mom, while his father remained in the
hospital. On Oct. 10, 2001, Chris Purdin Sr. died from his injuries. On Oct.
3, 2001, Chester Wyatt died.

"I got to see him three times," said Chris Jr. "The rest of the time I just
hoped he would make it. I felt that I didn't need to live without him in my
life, because I missed him so much."

"It was tough on the kids," said Emerson. "Especially Chris -- he just cried
and cried. Then he wanted to go back home with me."

Chris Jr. then faced the task of going on the witness stand against his
father's friends, who were on trial for manslaughter and manufacturing
methamphetamine charges. All were acquitted for the manslaughter charges.
Two of the three were found guilty of manufacturing meth. One was found not
guilty of any charges and was released.

"I think they deserved more than what they got," said Chris Jr. "It makes me
mad, just the thought of it."

Chris Jr. said he is also scared a little these days, afraid those he
testified against will seek retribution. However, the tragedy remains a
cloud with a small silver lining -- Chris Jr. has been turned away from
drugs and the drug scene.

"He's a happy-go-lucky teen-ager now," said Emerson. "I don't think I'll
ever have to worry about him getting into drugs now. Now that he's accepted
his dad's death, it has really changed him.

"Most of his friends know about his dad and look up to him for testifying
and for turning around. In a way, I hate to say it, it was a blessing in
disguise.

"I honestly believe that if not for the accident, he (Chris Jr.) would have
gotten dragged into that scene. He would have done it for his dad, because
he would do anything for his dad."

When Emerson was asked if she had any advice for people in a similar
situation, she said, "Get out. It doesn't get any better. It's no life for
anyone to live. When I left, it was like getting out of jail."

When asked if he had it to do over again, Chris Jr. said, "It would make me
feel really bad to do and know he would get in trouble, but I would tell
someone about it. If you know something, notify someone really fast, because
you don't know how fast something bad can happen.

"I know now I should have called the cops in the first place."
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