A third person, Richard Laughrin, has been charged in connection with the drug overdose death of Maddie Kiefer.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Richard R. Laughrin, 58, of Shorewood was charged Saturday with child abandonment and child neglect resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum term of 35 years in prison and $125,000 in fines.
From the criminal complaint:
Complainant alleges that on March 1, 2009, Detective Mcleod interviewed ADB (DOB: 04-28-94). ADB stated that on February 28, 2009, she was with Madison Kiefer when they went to the home of Matthew Laughrin located at 4852 North Berkeley Boulevard, in the Village of Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. ADB stated that together with Kiefer, they went into Matthew Laughrin’s room where they smoked marijuana ADB stated that Matthew showed them his safe in which was a large amount of marijuana and what she believed to be Xanax and marijuana pipes. ADB stated that Matthew told them that he had Suboxone and eventually agreed to sell Madison Kiefer one pill for $8.
Complainant alleges that ADB stated that she returned to Laughrin’s house sometime after 1:00am on March 1st 2009 where she found Madison Kiefer to be extremely impaired and ADB stated that she believed Kiefer had taken the Suboxone. ADB stated she woke up at around 7:30am, tried to wake up Madison Kiefer but was unable to do so. ADB stated that she told Matthew Laughrin that if Kiefer does not get up soon she would come back and get her. ADB stated that she had been home for a very short time when she received a call from Matthew Laughrin stating, “She (Madison Kiefer) can’t be in my house. She’s not waking up.” ADB stated that she told Matthew Laughrin that she would try to get a ride for Madison Kiefer and call him back, but within minutes Matthew Laughrin called and stated that he had arranged a ride. ADB stated that minutes later a green car drove slowly past her residence, which is located at 5152 North Diversey Boulevard, in the Village of Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, and then backed into her driveway where ADB saw an older man in the front seat of the car and Madison Kiefer and Matthew Laughrin in the back seat. ADB stated that the man got out and helped Matthew Laughrin get Madison Kiefer from the back seat by grabbing her around the torso, that Matthew Laughrin and the man he referred to as “Dad” laid Madison Kiefer on the driveway in front of ADB mother’s car. ADB stated that Matthew Laughrin and the old man then placed Madison Kiefer’s boots and sweatshirt outside their vehicle on the driveway and Matthew Laughrin threw Madison Kiefer’s cell phone into the snow-covered grass before they quickly drove off.
Complainant further alleges that on March 1st 2009 Detective McLoed spoke with DTS DOB 7/8/1994, who stated that he helped ADB carry Kiefer into the home from her driveway. DTS stated that he did not see Kiefer breathing and didn’t think she had a pulse.
Complainant further alleges that on March 2, 2009, Detective McCleod interviewed Richard Laughrin DOB 4/29/1950 who stated that on March 1, 2009, his son Matthew Laughrin called him and stated he needed to get a girlfriend out of his house. Richard stated that when he arrived at Matthew’s house, Matthew carried the girl out to Richard’s car over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Richard stated, “You could tell the girl was on something.” Richard stated that he never heard the girl say anything, that she was not crying and he couldn’t even recall her ever moaning. Richard stated that they drove the girl approximately 3 blocks to the girl’s house where they met in the driveway someone he believed to be the girl’s sister or friend. Richard stated that he pulled into the driveway and helped his son Matthew take the girl out of the car and then Matthew dragged the girl over to her friend. Richard stated he immediately got back into his car and at one point said, “Let’s get out of here.” Richard stated that he knows his son Matthew has used heroin, opiates, pills and marijuana. Complainant further alleges that Madison Kiefer was born on September 18, 1993. Complainant further alleges that Madison Kiefer was pronounced dead at the scene at 5152 North Diversey Boulevard, in the Village of Whitefish Bay, the house of ADB on 03-01-2009.
Statements by Richard Laughrin that were published in the Journal Sentinel last week contradict what's in the criminal complaint.
Richard Laughrin, 58, a Shorewood resident, said in an interview that only his son carried Kiefer out of the car and he didn't see where his son put her. He said a girl had come outside to meet them.
"I had no idea what was going on," the elder Laughrin said.
That's not the same story that Richard Laughrin told police.
If the account in the criminal complaint is accurate, then the elder Laughrin did know what was going on.
He certainly knew that Kiefer was in bad shape. When Matthew Laughrin carried her out of his home, she was "over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes." He said, "You could tell the girl was on something." In other words, he definitely knew what was going on.
Laughrin said he didn't hear Kiefer speak, cry, or moan while she was in the car.
He said he helped his son take Kiefer out of the car. His son "dragged" Kiefer to her friend. It's impossible to believe that Richard Laughrin was unaware of the gravity of the situation.
When someone has been using drugs and is unresponsive, it's time to call 911, not drag the person out of the car and dump her in a driveway.
I don't understand how Richard Laughrin, a father who knows of his own son's drug use and overdoses, could treat another father's child like that.
I don't understand how he could treat any human being like that. He showed a stunning lack of concern for Kiefer's life.
And Matthew Laughrin, personal survivor of at lease two drug overdoses and friend of several people who died of a drug overdose, called his father to assist in dumping Kiefer rather than helping her.
It's unbelievable that Richard Laughrin obliged. He had to realize the seriousness of his actions and the possible consequences.
Would he have wanted someone to treat his son the way he treated Kiefer?
Would he have wanted someone to leave his child to die?
6 comments:
I personally know Matthew and richard laughrin since i was 9 years old. Ive used every drug from pot, to pills, to crack, and
heroin with Matthew AND his dad. I am now clean and sober and i think richard should pay for what he did. Hes a deadbeat that sold drugs with his son.
Anyone can say that they personally know him. Anyone can make accusations and say "If that was my son I would..." It's easy to look at a situation from your perspective, not involved at all, just an observer with spare time, and make your harsh judgments. It's too easy actually. In John 8:7 Jesus said, regarding the adulterous woman, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her". If only we could remember that today. We are all sinners. No different levels of bad sinner and just a little sinner. All sinners. If we are not Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and not loving our neighbor as ourself, we are sinning, period. We are all guilty. Mathew needs God to help him concur his drug abuse. Richard needs God to help him be a better parent and stop enabling his son. I need God to help me write this with a loving heart and You, all of you people reading the articles, watching the news coverage and spouting your opinions at the water cooler, need God to show you how to stop judging peoples bad behavior as if you are immune to it. We all need God to show us how to love our neighbor as our self. We need to pray for one another and set our eyes on God.
"anonymous" 10:02 AM, March 22, 2009 --
I agree that we are all sinners. I agree that praying to God that Matthew and Richard Laughrin turn toward God rather than continue on their path away from Him is a good idea.
That said, I strongly object to your suggestion that we should shut up.
Being aware that we are all sinners doesn't mean we shouldn't make judgments. You're suggesting that we be amoral.
It's not wrong to discuss behavior that's sinful, hurtful, criminal, and deadly. We shouldn't throw up our hands and say, "I can't comment because I've sinned, too."
As a society, where would be if we acted that way?
We would have chaos.
I believe Jesus' message is not that we shouldn't acknowledge that people break laws. It's that we should keep in mind that we also need to repent for the sins we commit, that we are not perfect, that we are not God. We are in need of forgiveness.
People often use that Gospel passage in an attempt to shut down debate.
I think that's a terrible mistake. It's abdicating our responsibilities as moral beings.
I never said we should not acknowledge bad behavior. The point I was trying to make was that we need to stop categorizing it as bad and really bad and not so bad. It's all sin and we should hate the behavior not the person. We shouldn't care so much about the details of crimes committed and waist so much time discussing them and judging them, but remember that we are all susceptible to sin and we should pray for one another and direct each other towards God instead of the hatred and name calling. We are all just a few bad choices away from doing something really bad. We need to look to God daily to keep us from that. I never said that we shouldn't hold people accountable for their bad behavior. There are laws and the Bible said we need to follow them. All people should be held accountable for laws they break. I just want people to leave the judging to the courts and have more compassion. There are a lot of people in the world that have done terrible things, but if all we want to do is hatefully lock them up and throw away the key, there is little chance for redemption. We need to encourage people, that have made bad choices, that they can change. Luke 6:37
[ Judging Others ] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
A couple things--
We aren't all just a few bad choices away from doing what Matthew and Richard Laughrin did, not even close. That's just not true.
Some of us have consciences and a sense of right and wrong that wouldn't allow us to do "something really bad."
I consider what the Laughrins did in connection with Maddie Kiefer's death to be "really bad."
Making that judgment doesn't show a lack of compassion. It simply shows an understanding of what a civilized, morally-grounded society will and will not tolerate.
I as well did drugs with matthew and HIS FATHER. Matthew and I sold drugs for 2 years: 2003-2005 in his fathers shorewood apartment. We never once encountered police either.... Matthews mother tried everything to keep the drugs away from her son and family but definitely had knowledge matthew was still selling drugs. There is no possibility she didn't. I think both Matthew and his Father deserve punishment, but expect an unusually harsh sentence coming for both of them.
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