A man whose son died after taking methadone is suing the family of the teenager who gave the powerful painkiller to the 17-year-old boy.
Ken Zigler, 52, a remodeling contractor, said he initially went along with court orders designed to rehabilitate Stephanie Davis, 17, but decided to sue her family because of indications that she has continued to use drugs.
He found his son barely breathing early on March 27, 2006, and the boy was dead of a methadone overdose by the time paramedics arrived.
Investigators wrote that Davis had given the boy two 10-milligram tablets of methadone, and she was charged with homicide by controlled substance.
Since her case was referred to drug court nearly a year ago, records show, Davis has repeatedly tested positive for alcohol and marijuana and a modified drug court agreement is pending.
“I saw she was just going back into her old habits,” Zigler said. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something for the death of my son.”‘
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Zigler against Davis’ mother, Sharon Arger, this month in Spokane County Superior Court. Arger, who has back pain, failed to secure a medicine cabinet although her daughter had previously stolen medications from her, according to the lawsuit.
Arger, 42, has said the methadone her daughter gave Zigler’s son came from elsewhere and not at home.