UNSOLVED Oh - Pike County: 8 People From One Family Dead As Police Hunt For Killer(s) #33

[Betty P]

I agree. I watched my father commit a slow suicide over 40 years of his life until he was dead. And in the same sense, I’ve known many people who chased the buzz of opiates because they needed mental health treatment. I do still feel like dirty physicians and the DEA are to blame for a good chunk of this epidemic. Like the physician I shared up thread who was a psychiatrist prescribing opiates. There’s zero reason for that in his profession and the DEA should have busted him long before they did. Instead he ran a multistate drug ring for years, made millions, probably aided in killing more than will ever be known, and was still able to get half the sentence one of the runners got.

We just live in very sad times. It’s all just sad. And looking over all of this, thinking about the Rhodens and RW, GR and his Greenup connections. Chris being said to go to Detroit for car auctions. JR walking on his drugs charges after the murders. I dont know what to think anymore.

According to the DEA, their hands have been tied on trying to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Ex-DEA agent: Opioid crisis fueled by drug industry and Congress

When the DEA tried to shut down the big drug distributors who were putting so many opioids out into states, they were stopped by Congress and the drug lobby.

Drug distributors are the middlemen in the pharma business. They're the link between the manufacturers and retail pharmacies. The problem is they were turning a blind eye to massive amounts of drugs that were being diverted to pill mills.

A distributor's representative told us the problem is not distributors but doctors who overprescribe pain medication, but the distributors know exactly how many pills go to every drug store they supply. And they are required under the Controlled Substances Act to report and stop what the DEA calls "suspicious orders" -- such as unusually large or frequent shipments of opioids. But DEA investigators say many distributors ignored that requirement.

The DEA has fined them to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the drug distributors keep ignoring suspicious orders because it's more profitable to do so. The drug distributors' lobbyists went to Congress and complained. Congress told the DEA to back off. The lobbyists then gave big money to the top lawyers at DEA who told the lower level agents to back off, too. The top lawyers refused to prosecute the cases the DEA agents brought to them. After serving a few years in those jobs the top lawyers then leave the DEA for high paying jobs in the pharma industry.

It's called "regulatory capture". A perfect example of why you don't want businesses running government.

Regulatory capture - Wikipedia

 

[Charliegizmo49]

According to the DEA, their hands have been tied on trying to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Ex-DEA agent: Opioid crisis fueled by drug industry and Congress

When the DEA tried to shut down the big drug distributors who were putting so many opioids out into states, they were stopped by Congress and the drug lobby.

Drug distributors are the middlemen in the pharma business. They're the link between the manufacturers and retail pharmacies. The problem is they were turning a blind eye to massive amounts of drugs that were being diverted to pill mills.




The DEA has fined them to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the drug distributors keep ignoring suspicious orders because it's more profitable to do so. The drug distributors' lobbyists went to Congress and complained. Congress told the DEA to back off. The lobbyists then gave big money to the top lawyers at DEA who told the lower level agents to back off, too. The top lawyers refused to prosecute the cases the DEA agents brought to them. After serving a few years in those jobs the top lawyers then leave the DEA for high paying jobs in the pharma industry.

It's called "regulatory capture". A perfect example of why you don't want businesses running government.

Regulatory capture - Wikipedia

I agree. While honest pain patients suffer by government limiting pain prescription s so sorely needed to function.

 

[Chelly]

In my generation almost all the kids in high school smoked. In college there were fewer that smoked but still a lot of them did. My brothers and all their friends smoked at one time during the late 50's and 60's. They began quitting in the mid 70's. Only one of my nephews and one niece (80's generation) smoked. They quit in the 90's. None of my grandchildren smoke and only one of the third generation (2000 generation) in our family does so. And we stay on him continually so that if he does still smoke he never does it around family. We don't allow smokers in our houses or cars or businesses.

So at this time there are only a few people I see that still smoke. But then this state keeps adding taxes to tobacco at a fast rate so that now a carton of cigarettes is about 70.00. (I called and checked at Walmart so I could be accurate in this post.) Soon after the fall election there will be a dollar tax hike per pack of cigarettes bringing the price of a carton of cigarettes up to 80.00 per carton.

So I feel like the saturation in grades 1 through 12 worked here where I live.

JMO

Oh Holy Smokes. When I started smoking, a pack of cigarettes was 20 cents at the store and 25 cents in the machine. I had to buy them from the vending machine cuz I was underage. I quit when the cost of a pack reached 60 cents because I couldn't afford them anymore. I was 24 years old when I quit.

 

[rsd1200]

Very thorough article with references to Greenup, KY. https://heroin.palmbeachpost.com It seems as though El Chapo was one step ahead in making sure that the druggies had their fix. Supply chain management and adaptability at its' finest.

People like me, and others like me, around here, saw it coming. We're not a wealthy county and were not prepared, nor do I think they expected, what happened, would happen. People wander off and disappear all the time. Someone has likely either killed them over drugs and dumped the bodies, or, they'v gone up into the mountains to shoot up, and died up there of an overdose. It's sad.

From your above linked article;

Tallahassee saw it coming. Florida had a plan to stop the pill mill scourge before it took hold. It had free money to put the plan into action. At the very top, law enforcement officials knew heroin would follow the free-flowing pills.

Politicians did nothing.

I haven't finished reading the whole thing but plan to do so. Thank you iridized.

 

[rsd1200]

According to the DEA, their hands have been tied on trying to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Ex-DEA agent: Opioid crisis fueled by drug industry and Congress

When the DEA tried to shut down the big drug distributors who were putting so many opioids out into states, they were stopped by Congress and the drug lobby.

Drug distributors are the middlemen in the pharma business. They're the link between the manufacturers and retail pharmacies. The problem is they were turning a blind eye to massive amounts of drugs that were being diverted to pill mills.




The DEA has fined them to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the drug distributors keep ignoring suspicious orders because it's more profitable to do so. The drug distributors' lobbyists went to Congress and complained. Congress told the DEA to back off. The lobbyists then gave big money to the top lawyers at DEA who told the lower level agents to back off, too. The top lawyers refused to prosecute the cases the DEA agents brought to them. After serving a few years in those jobs the top lawyers then leave the DEA for high paying jobs in the pharma industry.

It's called "regulatory capture". A perfect example of why you don't want businesses running government.

Regulatory capture - Wikipedia

Nope, we don't need a country run by businesses, however, we are very nearly there, but I digress... the government went off half-cocked as usual when the problem with opiates finally hit the upper middle, and upper class, families. No one cared til then, and then they all point fingers. Us, down here, at ground zero, knew there was a problem before it ever hit the news. Like everything else, they took a long term problem and tried to solve it over night. If we can solve it by voting day, won't that look good?! Solving a problem that huge, overnight, was like trying to stuff 20 pounds of sausage into a five pound bag. It don't work that way. No one really cares about addicts, still, as long as high profile cases, who have behaved badly, make the news about a "magical recovery" and reads a pre-written apology, for all that their words/actions hurt. Now we have a serious heroin and meth problem and the addiction to Meth is like none I've ever seen.

 

[Dudly]

According to the DEA, their hands have been tied on trying to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Ex-DEA agent: Opioid crisis fueled by drug industry and Congress

When the DEA tried to shut down the big drug distributors who were putting so many opioids out into states, they were stopped by Congress and the drug lobby.

Drug distributors are the middlemen in the pharma business. They're the link between the manufacturers and retail pharmacies. The problem is they were turning a blind eye to massive amounts of drugs that were being diverted to pill mills.




The DEA has fined them to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the drug distributors keep ignoring suspicious orders because it's more profitable to do so. The drug distributors' lobbyists went to Congress and complained. Congress told the DEA to back off. The lobbyists then gave big money to the top lawyers at DEA who told the lower level agents to back off, too. The top lawyers refused to prosecute the cases the DEA agents brought to them. After serving a few years in those jobs the top lawyers then leave the DEA for high paying jobs in the pharma industry.

It's called "regulatory capture". A perfect example of why you don't want businesses running government.

Regulatory capture - Wikipedia

There is so much money to be made that people can not resist. I remember reading years ago that people would buy a twin engine plane to make one drug run to South America and back. On their return they would land the plane in a field and abandon it. They made enough money that they could buy a plane and ditch it....

 

[MittenScarpetta]

According to the DEA, their hands have been tied on trying to deal with the opioid epidemic.

Ex-DEA agent: Opioid crisis fueled by drug industry and Congress

When the DEA tried to shut down the big drug distributors who were putting so many opioids out into states, they were stopped by Congress and the drug lobby.

Drug distributors are the middlemen in the pharma business. They're the link between the manufacturers and retail pharmacies. The problem is they were turning a blind eye to massive amounts of drugs that were being diverted to pill mills.




The DEA has fined them to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the drug distributors keep ignoring suspicious orders because it's more profitable to do so. The drug distributors' lobbyists went to Congress and complained. Congress told the DEA to back off. The lobbyists then gave big money to the top lawyers at DEA who told the lower level agents to back off, too. The top lawyers refused to prosecute the cases the DEA agents brought to them. After serving a few years in those jobs the top lawyers then leave the DEA for high paying jobs in the pharma industry.

It's called "regulatory capture". A perfect example of why you don't want businesses running government.

Regulatory capture - Wikipedia

I totally understand what you’re saying. What I was pointing out is this.

Any doctor who writes a narcotic prescription or a controlled substance, has to provide their DEA ID number with that prescription. Most pharmacies already have their local physicians DEA numbers on file, but if they don’t they will call the physician and get the number before a prescription can be filled.

That prescription is then filled and the doctor’s DEA number is entered along with it.

The DEA tracks all of that. They know who’s prescribing what controlled substances. They know who’s over prescribing or prescribing things they have no reason to prescribe.

The DEA can stop it. They just don’t seem to put an end to it after millions of pills have already been written and distributed. They have the authority to not allow it to happen.

 

[MittenScarpetta]

Oh Holy Smokes. When I started smoking, a pack of cigarettes was 20 cents at the store and 25 cents in the machine. I had to buy them from the vending machine cuz I was underage. I quit when the cost of a pack reached 60 cents because I couldn't afford them anymore. I was 24 years old when I quit.

Well..y’all are motivating me to quit. $7 a pack and there’s so much more I could be doing with
that money because it adds up quick!

 

[rsd1200]

There is so much money to be made that people can not resist. I remember reading years ago that people would buy a twin engine plane to make one drug run to South America and back. On their return they would land the plane in a field and abandon it. They made enough money that they could buy a plane and ditch it....

The plane jogged my memory, have you ever read, Bluegrass Conspiracy? True story. Multi-million dollar drug ring, in the 70s. I remember when it broke. Insane!!! It was at the height of the cocaine era around these parts. The book can be a bit draggy in areas but it's an interesting read.

 

[Dudly]

The plane jogged my memory, have you ever read, Bluegrass Conspiracy? True story. Multi-million dollar drug ring, in the 70s. I remember when it broke. Insane!!! It was at the height of the cocaine era around these parts. The book can be a bit draggy in areas but it's an interesting read.

I have not read that book...

 

[MittenScarpetta]

I have not read that book...

Speaking of books- I just ordered “Deadly Kin”. It came up on a search when I was searching mass familial murders to compare instances to this case. It’s about a family of 9 that was killed by 2 cousins who were in love. In no way am I saying that happened in this case, but I sometimes get captivated by dysfunctional story lines and I’m certain this book has it all.

It’s so strange to me when trying to find cases to compare this case to-they’re either solved or nonexistent.

 

[rsd1200]

I have not read that book...

I'd highly recommend it. Kentucky's bluebloods were having a blast, there were two detectives, in the narcotics division at Lexington Ky, LED. They led what was called, "The Company" a drug smuggling ring in Kentucky. One of the agents has always been suspected of the murder of a Senator's daughter whose body has never been found. He was released from prison not long ago. It was something else.

 

[rsd1200]

I totally understand what you’re saying. What I was pointing out is this.

Any doctor who writes a narcotic prescription or a controlled substance, has to provide their DEA ID number with that prescription. Most pharmacies already have their local physicians DEA numbers on file, but if they don’t they will call the physician and get the number before a prescription can be filled.

That prescription is then filled and the doctor’s DEA number is entered along with it.

The DEA tracks all of that. They know who’s prescribing what controlled substances. They know who’s over prescribing or prescribing things they have no reason to prescribe.

The DEA can stop it. They just don’t seem to put an end to it after millions of pills have already been written and distributed. They have the authority to not allow it to happen.

This has been going on for a few years now. Pills just aren't really the thing anymore (at least not here, there's no money in them). There's not much money in it because of the difficulty in getting the pills, and the inability to crush them up now. You can't hardly find the old style pills, the ones that folks were after. We've moved on to Heroin and Meth. That's not going to be in the DEA logs. I don't want the DEA collecting my info if I get a pain scrip, anyway, and filtering it over to the govt. so they can have unfettered use of my information. Govt. doesn't need all my info.

Police are now tracking your prescription drugs

 

[MelmothTheLost]

He was told that the tendency to be addicted can be hereditary.

But is that due to genetic or cultural factors? Cultural in that if generations of his family have had the same problem maybe it's because they automatically seek a particular solution to problems?

 

[MittenScarpetta]

This has been going on for a few years now. Pills just aren't really the thing anymore (at least not here, there's no money in them). There's not much money in it because of the difficulty in getting the pills, and the inability to crush them up now. You can't hardly find the old style pills, the ones that folks were after. We've moved on to Heroin and Meth. That's not going to be in the DEA logs. I don't want the DEA collecting my info if I get a pain scrip, anyway, and filtering it over to the govt. so they can have unfettered use of my information. Govt. doesn't need all my info.

Police are now tracking your prescription drugs

Oh I totally agree. It’s the same here. However, the DEA has been tracking controlled substances forever. I started in healthcare over 40 years ago and I can’t tell you how many times over the years I was with one provider, I had to verify give the physician’s DEA number for an rx he had written.

They knew what was going on long before the crackdown. And I agree that the govt. doesn’t need all of our personal info. It’s beyond invasive.

 

[Dudly]

But is that due to genetic or cultural factors? Cultural in that if generations of his family have had the same problem maybe it's because they automatically seek a particular solution to problems?

He was told it was genetic. This was back in the 90s.

 

[rsd1200]

Oh I totally agree. It’s the same here. However, the DEA has been tracking controlled substances forever. I started in healthcare over 40 years ago and I can’t tell you how many times over the years I was with one provider, I had to verify give the physician’s DEA number for an rx he had written.

They knew what was going on long before the crackdown. And I agree that the govt. doesn’t need all of our personal info. It’s beyond invasive.

I remember before the tracking. There was no way for docs and ER folks to know. I had a friend who we actually called The Dr. He was a mess, but he could walk right into the docs offices and lift pads from the center, and right scrips, just like docs would, and go to different pharmacies in surrounding counties. Dude was a walking disaster but pulled it off for a long time. Died pretty young. Addict, related, of course. After the tracking, it got harder but the addicts got more creative. Now it's nearly impossible but the ****ing govt. doesn't need my name in any database that has to do with anything about my medical information, or personal life.

 

[MittenScarpetta]

Self
Delete

 

[RAISINISBACK]

It does to me Raisin. I am so sorry. I even had a less restrictive family life than many of the other Pentecostal raised children. I think that was b/c of my father, who was raised Methodist. My mother was Full Holiness Pentecostal (but no snakes). All the other kids would be playing and I'd be glued to my seat taking it all in... My mother ties everything back to religion. I used this technique on her a couple three times, but, my understanding of the verse, that I presented is apparently WRONG, and now she looks sad for me. LOLOL I might do a slight nod over my food, in public, whether I'm in a bar, or the local Waffle House, but my mother, goes through the entire, in-home private version, of the "family" dinner prayer, in PUBLIC. It is mortifying. One of the kids was telling a gf about it the other day, how his grandparents would go through the entire prayer, in the local restaurant and he'd see friends coming their way, he'd be like, NOOOO!! Curse words. Oh, my mother could not live here with us. I've cursed in front of her but it wasn't on purpose. We're likely to make up curse words here when we run out of the ones we already know. If a book has one single eff word in it, back to the library it goes, and I get a lecture about how that author could be more realistic. Real people don't talk that way.

I love my mother to pieces, and I'd say she's got her spot marked up there in the great beyond, but, I don't think God micro manages us that much, if so, then that there, gene that helps addictions along, wouldn't exist.

O/T
Thank you for understanding RSD. So few people do. My family was raised strict Pentecostal (no snakes lol). My brothers got away from it some in their late teens and early twenties but when it came time to marry and settle down they were right back into the fold. Our spouses are all of the same faith. The funny thing is we didn't raise our son strict Pentecostal. Yes we went to church but it wasn't a big deal at home, he went to parties, went out with friends who were not of the same faith, to movies ect. His wife was raised Catholic although his kids were raised Pentecostal. It's only been the last seven years or so that he has gotten into it so deep and his wife has converted to Pentecostal. Hubby wasn't in it that much either until our son got into it. I get no help from siblings or extended family because they don't see a problem.

Posting on here and reading what you posted has made me realize I need to get into counseling. I need someone to talk to who isn't biased.

Thank you RSD.

 

[MittenScarpetta]

Oh I totally agree. It’s the same here. However, the DEA has been tracking controlled substances forever. I started in healthcare over 40 years ago and I can’t tell you how many times over the years I was with one provider, I had to verify give the physician’s DEA number for an rx he had written.

They knew what was going on long before the crackdown. And I agree that the govt. doesn’t need all of our personal info. It’s beyond invasive.

LOL I did not start in healthcare over 40 years ago. It was over a TWENTY years ago. I really need to proofread before posting because I just aged myself significantly .