ORMOND BEACH, Fla.,None — A man accused of helping teen boys dumpster dive behind a methadone clinic, may have caused a 14-year-old boy's death, police said on Wednesday.
Bryce Parson died during a sleep over at his friend's Ormond Beach home after police said that 32-year-old Richard Newkirk lead Parson and a few of his friends to a dumpster where they took 160 empty methadone bottles and used them to make drugs.
Newkirk was arrested and appeared before a judge on Wednesday. It's not the first time for Newkirk. He has prior drug charges and a long criminal history.
Earlier this month, Ormond Beach police detained him for questioning after Parson was found dead in the home where Newkirk does handy work from time to time.
Before they settled in, police said Newkirk drove Parson and two of his friends to Whitney Labs on North US-1, which is a company that distributes methadone.
Parson's friends said Newkirk showed them how to get empty methadone bottles from a dumpster in the back and taught them how to make drugs out of residue in the bottles. Police said they made a syrup-like substance and drank it. The next day, Parson was found dead.
"I don't want anybody to look at him any differently," said Kim Van Horn, a friend of Parson's parents.
Van Horn said he loved playing in the water and was going to turn 15 years old this month.
"The younger brothers, the older brother, mother and father are all just grieving terribly beyond words," said Van Horn.
Police said they are waiting on a toxicology report to prove if methadone killed the boy. If that's the case, Newkirk will also be charged with manslaughter, police said.
Newkirk is in jail on a $100,000 bond.
WFTV
