Lest we forget how strong methadone really is. Bloody sad story all around.
Woman Who Gave Fatal Overdose of Methadone to Teen Sentenced to Prison
Last Update: 7/25 7:10 pm
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A mother of three who gave a fatal overdose of the pain-killing drug methadone to her daughter's 17-year-old friend after the victim complained of a sore throat was sentenced Friday to six years in state prison.
Laura Wion, 45, pleaded guilty June 11 to involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing death.
El Cajon Superior Court Judge Charles Ervin sentenced Wion to the maximum term under a plea agreement.
Tracy Moe, the mother of victim Kelsea Phelps, said she lost everything when Wion killed her daughter.
Moe said her daughter was unresponsive when she went to wake her up for school the morning of Aug. 22, 2006.
"I died that very moment with my daughter," Moe said. "Now, I'm a broken woman. She (Wion) killed my daughter. She killed my son. And she killed me."
Outside court, Moe said she will work toward passing "Kelsea's Law," to put warnings on prescription methadone bottles.
"I just want people to know that I'm not done with this," Moe said.
The victim's mother said she was happy Wion was held accountable for her actions.
"Justice, when you lose the life of a child, is never served," Moe, a former deputy sheriff, said outside court.
In court, defense attorney Michael Malowney said the victim -- who was nearly 18 when she died -- was partly to blame for her own death.
The attorney said the victim had a history of drug use, had run away from home, and didn't take her medication for her bipolar disorder.
Malowney said Wion made a "big mistake" by giving Phelps the methadone pills along with several penicillin pills, but said Wion meant no harm by it.
The attorney said Wion's judgment may have been impaired by all of the prescription medications she had been taking, including the pain killer OxyContin, an anti-seizure medication and anti-depressant medication.
Friends and family said Wion was a good mother who always wanted to help people.
Prosecutor Chris Lindberg told the judge that the victim was not to blame and said Wion's "reckless behavior" to give a dangerous prescription drug to a minor caused Kelsea's death.
Lindberg said Wion exaggerated his illnesses to get attention. One doctor even watched the defendant fake a seizure, the prosecutor said.
"She is not the person they would like you to believe," Lindberg said.
Lindberg said Wion should have taken Phelps to a doctor if she thought her sore throat was so bad.
"Kelsea would be alive if it wasn't for the defendant's action," Lindberg told the judge.
Lindberg said Wion giving Phelps the methadone pills was "like giving a loaded gun to a toddler" and just walking away.
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