In the Alexandria Echo Press, Al Edenloff reports on the details of the final hours of University of Minnesota-Morris freshman Laura Schwendemann in Gross misdemeanor charges expected in Schwendemann case.
The case suggests that more education is needed about "Steve's Law," a Good Samaritan law passed by the Minnesota legislature in 2014. Star Tribune columnist Gail Rosenblum noted in 'Good Samaritan' law essential for drug antidote to succeed:
At least 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed similar Good Sam laws; about 17 states and the District of Columbia have naloxone laws. In Minnesota, the law is being carried by Rep. Dan Schoen, DFL-St. Paul Park, in the House and Sen. Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center. Eaton’s 23-year-old daughter, Ariel, died from a heroin overdose in 2007.
The bill passed without a dissenting vote in either chamber, but apparently word of it has not reached down to the street--or back roads. Edenloff reports in the Echo Press article:
The man who was last seen with Laura Schwendemann of Starbuck will be charged with a gross misdemeanor for concealing the location of her body, which was found in a Douglas County corn field on October 26, 12 days after she was missing....
The autopsy revealed that Schwendemann had not sustained any traumatic or abusive injuries prior to her death, Larson said, and she did not suffer from any life-threatening natural diseases.
However, toxicology revealed a significant presence of methamphetamine and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in her system, Larson said, adding that meth use is associated with sudden death.
The autopsy results, Larson said, were consistent with McArdell's final version of events. . . .
He then stated that he and Schwendemann had been driving around rural Douglas County on the evening of October 14 and that both he and Schwendemann were injecting methamphetamine.
McArdell stated that he "blacked out” and could not remember what had happened or where Schwendemann was, Wolbersen said.
When a farmer discovered Schwendemann's body in a corn field in Orange Township, McArdell was being housed in the Douglas County Jail for a probation violation related to his previous admission of methamphetamine use to investigators, according to Wolbersen. McArdell is also on probation for felony domestic assault.
After hearing of Schwendemann's discovery, McArdell requested to speak with investigators. At that time, he said that Schwendemann had overdosed on methamphetamine while they were driving. He admitted that he had panicked and he had concealed her body in a corn field, according to authorities.
“It certainly appears that meth has dealt us another blow,” said Larson. “This case presents me with numerous questions which I direct to meth dealers and addicts alike: How many lives must be taken? How many parents must bury their children? How many kids must lose hope? How many souls must be rendered unfeeling and chasing only the next high? Have you no ability to value human life?”
Larson said that it was “extremely unfortunate” that McArdell was either not aware of a recent law passed by the Minnesota legislature, or didn't care. The “Good Samaritan law” would have provided him immunity from prosecution for the meth that they had apparently possessed had he called 911 and reported the medical emergency in this case.
The Star Tribune reports in Charges coming against man who allegedly hid Minn. teen's body after using drugs:
Sandra Olson-Loy, vice chancellor for student affairs at Minnesota, Morris, said Schwendemann grew up in west-central Minnesota, attended Minnewaska High School in Pope County, took classes at Alexandria Technical and Community College and finished high school through the Runestone Regional Learning Center in Alexandria. At Morris, she lived off-campus and was majoring in management, with a focus on financial and organizational management.
This tragedy suggests that more education about the new law--as not simply way to respond to just heroin overdoses-- is needed. That education can be delivered through treatment programs, drug courts and high school health and drug awareness classes.
The new law is not a "get out of jail free" card, but a move to address substance abuse as a public health issue, not merely a matter of the criminal justice. Speed kills, but so does fear of prison.
Photo: The field where Schwendemann's body was discovered (photo by Elizabeth Flores, via the Star Tribune).
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