A developmentally-disabled man, who family members say had “the mental capacity of a 10-year-old,” died of a suspected heroin overdose Saturday night at his girlfriend’s home on Third Street in Greenport.
The family of Andrew Crenshaw, 33, is seeking help with funeral expenses through a GoFundMe page.
They are in shock, his sister Charnell Morris said in an interview this morning.
“He did not use drugs,” Morris said. “He would drink beer, but that was it,” she said. “Someone, somehow must have tricked him or forced him.”
Morris was adamant about this. She said her brother had cerebral palsy and was developmentally disabled, with the mental capacity of a 10-year-old.
“We just want justice,” Morris said. “We want whoever did this to him to pay. Whoever did this did a horrible thing. They took advantage of someone who was not fit to make his own decisions.”
Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley said this morning that Crenshaw’s death, due to its nature, would be under investigation. This afternoon, the chief said he had spoken with detectives who are investigating the case. He said prior to officers’ arrival, Greenport Fire Department EMTs had administered Narcan to Crenshaw, who was “still breathing and alive” when police arrived at the scene. Police did not consider the man’s death suspicious but are still investigating while they await the autopsy report.
“I don’t believe there was any indication that he was tricked or forced into using the drug,” Flately said.
Crenshaw’s girlfriend Mary Lane said today something was wrong with Crenshaw when he returned home Saturday.
“He came home like that,” Lane said. “He couldn’t walk and stuff.” Lane said she had no idea what was wrong with him. She agreed with Morris; Crenshaw did not use drugs, she said.
“We were going to get married in February,” Lane said. “I finally found somebody that was a wonderful person and this is how it turns out.”
Morris said she went to the medical examiner’s office yesterday to identify her brother’s body. A technician there told her the autopsy ruled out heart attack, stroke and a brain aneurysm, she said. Results of a toxicology test, which will formally determine whether or not there were any drugs in his system, won’t be available for about 90 days, she was told.
Crenshaw will be waked at New Bethel Church in Bellport. Arrangements are still pending, Morris said.
