Posted on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.
Man who died at Pittsfield Township apartment complex had drugs in his system, police say
By Lee Higgins
A man found dead last month at Spice Tree Apartments in Pittsfield Township choked on his own vomit in his sleep after he was drinking and using drugs, authorities said.
Preston Clayton, 20, of the Manchester area, was found dead July 16 at the complex off Washtenaw Avenue, where he had been hanging out with several friends, Pittsfield Township police Lt. Sean McCormick said.
McCormick declined to specify what drugs were found in Clayton's system. He said the toxicology report came back Wednesday.
Washtenaw County Deputy Medical Examiner Jeff Jentzen, who performed the autopsy, could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.
Comments
Mark A.
Fri, Oct 8, 2010 : 7 a.m.
Preston was a good kid, living on the streets when I met him. His family could probably care less as they had kicked him out for being gay. How he died is just one of the facts. It's like reporting someone 5'9" and white died, only that wouldn't be shocking and sell news. Why does this fact matter at all? Report that a wonderful young man full of potential died a tragic death. A young man that was thrown away by his family and society and found solace where he could.
Ann English
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
It sounds very similar to the cause of Jimi Hendrix's death in September of 1970.
Barb
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.
There's nothing poorly written about the article - it states facts, which is just what should be reported. Sometimes reality is awful.
fireyfd
Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
I agree that this was a very poorly written article. Very insensitive details. These type of details need not be reported.
amazonwarrior
Thu, Aug 12, 2010 : 10:47 p.m.
Maybe, just maybe the "graphic details" will cause people to think twice before doing what killed this young man. My sincere condolences to Preston's family.
boom
Thu, Aug 12, 2010 : 10:32 p.m.
I was thinking the same thing Maggie.
pseudo
Thu, Aug 12, 2010 : 6:15 p.m.
@Maggie: understand your sensitivity but I'm thinking of the rest the others who live near there (and close to the KMart too)and wondering what Pittsfield Twp is doing to lower the crime and drug rate? AND...maybe some painfully blunt wording is what the rest of us need. My condolences to Preston's family this must be terribly hard.
Maggie Levenstein
Thu, Aug 12, 2010 : 4:10 p.m.
Don't you think it would be appropriate to word more a little more delicately? Think about the family of the twenty year old young man who just passed away.