CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The family of a man given deadly heroin is speaking about the drug that took his life and the dealer behind it all.
46-year old Carlos Brown, of Suffolk, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday. "I forgive him, I'm a Christian," says Ruth Swindell.
According to federal prosecutors, Brown knowingly distributed a type of heroin to Swindell's grandson, 27-year-old Ryan Wilson, of Chesapeake, that caused many people to overdose.
It took Ryan's life.
"He knew that Ryan had died, he knew how deadly it was, and he continued to sell it to people that could possibly die also, that's what I find so distressing," says Swindell.
She says she doesn't know when Ryan started down his path.
His mother, also Swindell's daughter, died when he was only 14 years old.
"It hit all of us very hard but I just don't seem to think that he got beyond it."
Swindell says she didn't realize the man she considers her son was battling addiction, until only two months before it took his life.
"Nothing hurts you worse than having a child that you love saying I have a big problem, I need your help, and you know you cannot help him."
She's made it a point since then to never keep his addiction pushed under the rug, and she's urging other parents to do the same, and to watch their children closely.
"I think it's our civic duty to talk about it," says Swindell. "We can't bring Ryan back, but we can get these people off the streets if we all work together."
She says she's going to continue to share Ryan's story.
"I love Ryan, he was a good kid, and I miss him."
