2 people charged with murder after victim dies from overdose: APD
2 charged with murder in death of ACC student
Two people were arrested and charged with murder after a 19-year-old student died from an overdose.
AUSTIN, Texas - Two people were arrested and charged with murder after a 19-year-old student died from an overdose.
This is being investigated as Austin's 40th homicide of the year.
What happened?
The backstory:
Police said on June 11, around 4:42 p.m., officers responded to a request for help after a student was found unresponsive in his residence hall at St. Edward's University.
CPR was attempted but the student, later identified as 19-year-old Ethan Westgard, was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was later performed and determined the cause of death to be the toxic effects of fentanyl, mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, alprazolam, buprenorphine, and gabapentin.
An investigation showed Westguard died as a result of the drugs given to him by Jordan Breck, 22, and Alysia Rodriguez-Mabry, 27.
Both Breck and Rodriguez-Mabry were found and arrested by U.S. Marshals this week.
They were arrested and charged with murder.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or call 512-472-8477.
Ethan's family speaks out
What they're saying:
Ethan's mother, Naomi Westgard, and his brother, Brandon Westgard, shared how they want people to remember him.
"Ethan was such a sweetheart. He wore his heart on his sleeve and would help everybody, anyone, and he was an extremely talented musician and music producer. That's what he was going to school for," Naomi said.
"I want everyone to remember Ethan as a creative person who was very passionate about his music and being a very adventurous person," Brandon said.
Ethan was an ACC student who was living in a St. Edward's residence hall through a program that provides housing options for college students in Austin.
Naomi says it was a relief when the people responsible for his death were arrested.
"I'm just hopeful that these people are off the street, not just these two people, but everyone — they're just killing our children, and they're wiping out a generation. It's ridiculous and somebody has to stop them, and it has to start somewhere by making sure justice is served," she said.
Ethan and his mother, Naomi Westgard
"It's kind of bittersweet because they are charged and something is happening, but where we are in Austin is notorious for being very, very light when it comes to punishable offenses," Brandon said.
Ethan's family is also warning people about the dangers of taking drugs.
"A lot of people are looking for a quick buck or just to be the one giving it out at a party, but I've seen it many times when people take way too much for something they should not have. Especially going out, you need to be aware of what you're taking. You need to be in a safe environment. And really, I mean, you cannot trust anything off the streets. If anyone's giving it to you, even if it's a test strip and everything like that, you still cannot trust it," Brandon said.
They hope raising awareness can help prevent another family from going through the same tragedy.
"Hopefully justice is served with Ethan's case, and I want him to be able to carry a legacy that he lost his life but is saving others," Naomi said.
The Source: Information from an Austin Police Department press release on Sept. 17 and from interviews with Ethan's mother, Naomi Westgard, and his brother, Brandon Westgard