Another life is lost to a suspected heroin overdose in Middletown. But what makes this case pulling at the heartstrings of people is the fact that victim Jimeta Sanders (31) was a mother of nine kids and she died in front of them, ranging in age from 1 to 14. Officers of the Middletown Division of Police said they received an emergency call in December about the incident, stating that the mother was supposedly with a couple of her so-called “friends,” who were also believed to be the ones to supply the drugs. The police said that after supplying the drugs, the two men stole her money and left the house, leaving her to die in front of the kids.

The two men – Jim Boyer (63) and Keith Boyer (32) – were arrested and charged with tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and petty theft.

According to the police, father of the children, who was away at the time of the incident, works really hard to earn a living and has been doing his best to make ends meet. The incident left officers gravely disturbed, after which they decided it was time for them to make a difference.

The police department reached out to the community through Facebook to seek help for the Sanders’ family. Help came within no time, with people opening their hearts and donating toys, clothes and whatever one can think of.

Middletown police chief Rodney Muterspaw shared videos that showed a room and hallway full of various gift items for the children. Muterspaw said that all the items and an amount of almost $16,000 came in as donations within a few hours. In a video that Muterspaw posted on Facebook, he spoke from his heart about the role of the department in salvaging what they could of the festive spirit for the distraught family. He said it was something that the police department felt it had to do.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin overdose deaths increased by 20.6 percent from 2014 to 2015. Also, about 13,000 people lost their lives in 2015 alone. As per the CDC, the number of heroin-related deaths has jumped four times since 2010. It is important to understand that substance use disorders can have life-threatening repercussions if not treated in time. So whether it is an addiction to opioid or any other substance, one should seek professional help at the earliest. It is a harrowing time for family members, watching their loved ones grapple with addiction. If someone in your family or your friends are coping with a similar situation, it is best to seek immediate help at a credible rehab in your vicinity.

Hooked Sober is a source of information on drugs, alcohol, eating disorders and mental disorders. Please send your questions, concerns or comments to [email protected] or speak to a representative at (866) 838-4087.