3 p.m. Update: The Nedrow boy found dead today of an apparent drug overdose was identified by state police as Matthew J. Kappelmeier, 13, who was going into eighth grade at Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High School. Some of Kappelmeier's friends told investigators that Kappelmeier ingested Oxycontin, a pain killer sold in pill form, on Saturday, state police Sgt. Susan...
Cameron Tillich, 15, in a red sweatshirt, stands outside his 204 W. Roswell Ave., Nedrow home this afternoon shortly after he found his friend, 13-year-old Matthew Kappelmeier, dead on a bench in Tillich's backyard. State police said witnesses told them Kappelmeier had ingested Oxycontin, a narcotic pain killer, on Saturday. Tillich found Kappelmeier dead at about 11:55 a.m. today, police said. 3 p.m. Update:
The Nedrow boy found dead today of an apparent drug overdose was identified by state police as Matthew J. Kappelmeier, 13, who was going into eighth grade at Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High School.
Some of Kappelmeier's friends told investigators that Kappelmeier ingested Oxycontin, a pain killer sold in pill form, on Saturday, state police Sgt. Susan Lockyer said.
Oxycontin is a brand name for Oxycodone, a narcotic used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Kappelmeier, who lived on Chaffee Drive, was found dead around 11:55 a.m. today on a bench in the rear yard of a friend of his, Cameron Tillich, 15, of 204 W. Roswell Ave., Lockyer said. Tillich called the 911 center to alert authorities. Lockyer said police found no evidence of trauma or foul play when they arrived at the scene.
Police are continuing to investigate how Kappelmeier obtained the Oxycontin.
View full sizeMatt KappelmeierOne of his friends, 14-year-old Kaleika Trotman, who is also entering eighth grade at Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High, said that she spent most of Saturday hanging out in Nedrow and at Meachem Park with Kappelmeier, Tillich and other teens.
"Matt was doing Oxycontin," Trotman said. "He did a lot. But he was feeling fine."
She said Kappelmeier and Tillich left her Nedrow home at about 10 p.m.
Lockyer said that Tillich told police that Kappelmeier left his home sometime after midnight. Tillich walked Kappelmeier outside, then he went back inside and fell asleep. Tillich told police that Kappelmeier had planned to walk home, Lockyer said.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of Kappelmeier's death, Lockyer said.
Anyone with information may contact state police at 315-677-3123.
Nedrow, NY - Onondaga County deputies and state police are investigating today the death of a 13-year-old Nedrow boy found outside in the yard of a friend's house, a sheriff's office spokesman said.
The teen, a Chaffee Avenue resident whose name has not been released by authorities, was believed to have died outside 204 W. Roswell Ave. as a result of an accidental drug overdose, sheriff's Sgt. Robert Marshall said.
"It's not suspicious," Marshall said.
The boy was found in the rear yard outside 204 W. Roswell Ave. A crowd of people were crying outside the house as the body was carried from the scene to a TLC ambulance.
That property is owned by Kathleen Tillich, according to Onondaga County assessment records. Tillich has three teen-aged children.
Contact Catie O'Toole at cotoole@syracuse.com or 470-2134.