Judge Likely Overdosed, Coroner Says, After 2nd DUI Arrest
LEBANON, Ohio—A coroner says preliminary autopsy results show an Ohio judge likely died from a drug overdose following his second recent drunken-driving arrest.
Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove says it will be a few weeks before tests reveal what was in Judge James Heath’s system.
Based on Tuesday’s autopsy, Uptegrove estimates the 47-year-old Warren County judge died several hours before paramedics arrived Sunday afternoon at his Hamilton Township home.
Heath’s estranged wife found him on the floor of their bedroom.
James Heath was arrested Saturday night on an operating under the influence charge for the second time in seven months. He was found not guilty of the earlier charge when he pleaded guilty to a lesser count of reckless driving.
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Reader Reactions
Get with it??? Ok, so let’s go ahead and let people who put lives in danger by operating a 3,000 pound weapon while under the influence go ahead and feel free to do it again.
I’m sorry you are so worried about tax dollars but my worries are with my innocent friends and family who can easily be killed by selfish people who drive intoxicated.
Those people are criminals. They are not simply breaking the law, they are saying, “I don’t care about the lives of others, I want to drive myself when I’m DRUNK.“ That’s just as selfish as a person who says, “I don’t care about others, I’m going to shoot these innocent people because I want their money.“
Don’t tell me to get with it. There is no difference between someone who operates a vehicle intoxicated but luckily doesn’t kill anyone, and someone who robs and shoots someone, but luckily doesn’t kill them.
You get with it.
It sounds like the judge was in a very bad place, which is unfortunate - not only for him and his family, but for all his cases which are now going to have to be reopened and reviewed.
thats ridiculous…don’t lock someone up after the first offense. Think about it…..Go ahead spend more tax dollars to house these inmates in the already overcrowded prisons. Good idea…. riiiight. “locking someone up” come on look at the bigger picture. Get with it….
When are we going to start locking people up the very FIRST time they operate a 3,000 pound weapon under the influence??
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