I came home from work today to find a letter in my mailbox from Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols informing me that Henry’s case is closed, and that no arrests will be made. Of anyone. For anything.
Here is the letter.
I will have more to say later, but for now, I just want to say that I am deeply disturbed by the fact that in this letter, District Attorney Nichols offers effusive praise for the quality of a criminal investigation in which the victim himself was never interviewed, and in which the family of the victim has never been interviewed. And that’s only one of the many shocking oversights in this “intensive investigation” to which Mr. Nichols refers.
And while it sounds very thoughtful for DA Nichols to state in the letter I received today that he and Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “JJ” Jones will be happy to meet with me and “answer questions,” the offer seems incredibly crass given that no one from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office has ever once laid eyes on me or Henry’s father in the course of their 14 month “investigation,” despite our repeated pleas that they meet with us to discuss our son’s case.
Know this: our family has not given up on justice for Henry, as Knox County’s District Attorney and Sheriff have chosen to do. We have not given up, and we will not give up. – Katie Allison Granju, Henry’s Mama
Henry Louis Granju
1991- 2010
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All comments are moderated. Please be patient if it takes time for yours to appear.
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Henry Louis Granju – October 7, 1991 – May 31… by laurelavenue
So sorry to hear of this letter today. I am angry with you. I have followed your words from day one and have thought so much about this case and I keep going back to the same thing… Why can’t they just admit they messed up this investigation from the beginning. Of course they can’t tell what drugs killed Henry, because they never ordered a full toxicology report on a crime victim. Sheriff Jones knows they messed up, the DA knows it and anyone with half a brain knows it. They messed up from day one. They didn’t secure the crime scene, they didn’t order the right toxicology reports, they didn’t interview the victim, they didn’t interview key witnesses, they ignored evidence, they never treated the case as anything more than a “junkie who overdosed”….they completely ignored the laws in place and they don’t even have the guts to admit it. And again, no one but you, Katie, is holding them accountable – who is in charge in KNox County. They should be ashamed of their “investigation” and the way the continue to make justifications for their irresponsible work. I am actually surprised they didn’t release this information to the press before you got your letter in the mail. Peace to you and your family tonight and always.
Oh Katie…I saw the title of your post and literally gasped.You said it was coming…but I hoped that somehow,some way, someone in power in Knox County would open their eyes and do the right thing. So very sorry for you and your family. Do keep fighting. Do keep telling us all how to help. We all support you.
I have much to say but while my thoughts process I thought you should know that your address is not blocked out well enough on the letter. It is easily read on the pdf document.
I know you knew this was coming, but that doesn’t make it any less appalling. I’m so sorry, Katie. For you, for your family, for Henry.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” (Edmund Burke).
I’m so sorry, Katie. I will continue to pray that those who committed these crimes, and those who allow the criminals to roam free unchecked, will be brought to account by human justice. But I *know* someday there will be divine justice for Henry. God bless.
I really don’t know what to say, except that this is just wrong.
So NOW they’ll meet with you? How big of them.
THAT remains to be seen. They SAY they will meet with the Granjus.
I’m so sorry. This is just outrageous. Even if they couldn’t prove who gave Henry the drugs, what about the fact that Y&R didn’t call 9/11 when Henry was in distress? As you have pointed out many times, that is a CRIME. Did the Sheriff/DA even consider this element to the case? Seriously, what the hell is going on in Knoxville? There has to be more to it than a bungled case by some yahoo cops. Are you going to take them up on their offer to meet?
I don’t have the words, but this is staggering.
Katie, I am praying so fiercely for you and your family right now it hurts. You have truly been a bright beacon even through all of your pain for the past year and I hope we can find a way to get TPTB to wake up and take responsibility for their screw ups and help make sure they don’t do it again.
I’m so sorry, Katie. Love to you & your family. I believe that justice will come, but I wish it would come more swiftly.
This is a travesty of justice. I am appalled by the actions (inaction) of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney. Though I believe in Karma, I am impatient. Please do not give up, Katie. I love you… and I will never stop loving and believing in our beloved Henry.
xoxo
Holly
Dear Lord…….the absolute ARROGANCE of these MORONS. How can Sheriff Jones and Randy Nichols go home at night to their families and tell them that they actually “protect and serve” the citizens of Knox County who PAY THEIR SALARIES????? Hey J.J., and Randy…..I guess it will take one of your kids to get killed in this horrible manner before you will get off of your huge, lazy rear ends and do something. Go and tell your wives and kids that you “did the right thing today” while inside yourselves, you know you failed miserably at your jobs. You two people make me want to puke. I hope you can see the shame in your families eyes when they look at you as you go out the door every morning PRETENDING to be a champion of the people of Knox County. As for every one else in this county, keep the faith, these morally bankrupt cretins can’t keep their jobs FOREVER.
So angry, so sad……………..
The letter link wasn’t working, but saw it through the NBC website.
Funny it doesn’t say that if he were in your shoes that he’d have comfort in knowing that everything that could have been done was done in this investigation. The evidence wasn’t there because they screwed up on the front end. They need to take steps — exhaustively — to close these cracks in their system.
Ive been reading your blog for a long time. I am so sorry. The nerve to send you a letter rather than call or talk to you in person is kind of staggering, especially since you have been requesting personal contact all along. Of course they dont know exactly what drugs were in Henry’s system, the KCSO detective didnt order the full report and didnt tell the hospital to keep his blood that they did take.
Even with leaving aside both Henry’s assault injuries and the failure of Y&R to call 911 (both crimes in themselves which have nothing to do with blood evidence of drugs!) if the detective (and his superiors at KCSO) had any intention of pursuing legal action against the drug dealers supplying drugs to people who overdose (and using the laws you keep quoting) he would have instructed the hospital properly and known that he would need that evidence.
Ive been wondering if you have you been able to find any evidence that they have EVER charged a drug dealer with those laws? Is this case a singular event that they are ignoring or do they just not care about following up on all of the overdoses in their jurisdiction?
We are all rooting for you to keep fighting this injustice and we all want to find out what the &^%$ us going on with the law enforcement in your county. Keep going deeper and higher, you will find someone in power that will care and that will help you! Stay strong.
Laura.
As a mother myself I remember reading your story and thinking how horrible it must have been for you to see your baby go through something so bad and just not make it. Now to read what they have done to you is just heart wrenching! I can’t finish the video because of the tears that filled my eyes. Just too much, you are a brave woman and very strong because if I lost one of my babies, I don’t know what I would do. But honestly what else is there to say, I am now speechless!!!
I hate this Katie. We are all still here. Know that.
What about the failure of Y&R to get help for Henry? Why is there no charge for that? It seems so clear cut. I am so sorry, Katie. Really, there are no words…
Katie,
If I were to put in writing now exactly how I feel and what my opinion is, it could only hurt your case.
This is inexcusable. And it stinks. I’ll leave it at that.
Thinking of you, Chris, and all who love Henry.
I’m horrified and saddened. I pray that there will still be justice for Henry in some way at some point in the near future.
From the letter:
“Without doubt there must be more done to prevent the damage inflicted on our young people by the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs.” …”Please consider helping us tackle this growing and lethal problem of prescription drug abuse.”
To DA Nichols:
I’m sorry, but unless this is your attempt at acknowledging the the screwed up handling, the mistakes, and the indifference shown by the Knox County Sheriff’s Dept. in this case, you’ve come across as being grossly disengenuous. It’s virtually impossible to help the unwilling. You must be WILLING to investigate, and WILLING to charge if warranted. What about Amber Blizzard’s case? Are charges forthcoming in her death or are you unable to proceed there also?
agreed! and … “Please consider helping us tackle this growing and lethal problem of prescription drug abuse.”
in the 14 months that they have NOT been able to do one thing regarding Henry’s case, Betsy and Katie have managed to set up a foundation, fund it and award scholarships to young adults struggling with drug addiction. i guess that’s not enough for the Knox County DA. y’all should *really* do more.
“they” being KCSO and DA… not you guys. i have troubling writing precisely when angry!
I finally got a chance to read the letter (the link wasn’t working for me for a while). I could not believe how condescending and paternalistic Nichols sounded. I suppose if his office and the sheriff’s office had done a high-quality, professional investigation, during which his and the sheriff’s office had worked with your family, the tone would have seemed caring, but in the absence of any substance it just reads as so much insincere hand-patting.
My thoughts exactly!
I am heartsick.
I believe the only explanation is that the Knox County DA’s office and the Knox County Sheriff’s office are criminally involved with Human Trafficking, Drug Trafficking and the cover-up of the Murder of Henry Granju.
I agree. (BTW, what happened to the “like” and “dislike” function?)
yes, very crass indeed to offer to meet with you now. so sorry for you and your family. as someone said earlier, the investigation was botched from the beginning, routine toxicology tests weren’t ordered, witnesses not interviewed, etc. And it is pretty obvious they have spent the past year either doing nothing, or trying to cover up the fact that they blew this from day one. Or, and I still think this is very very possible, protecting someone and/or covering something up. Again, I know you expected this, but I am still very sorry for your family.
Thinking of you and behind you, let us know what we can do.
Katie, I am dismayed and sorry. I hope you will keep up the work you have been doing to make Knox County a safe place. It is so important, and it takes a courageous person affect change in a system that is so clearly flawed. Please do not give up on your idea of protecting kids.
Although Mr. Nichols offer to meet seems crass, I’d go. And take Jon, your mom, your sister and other family, a lawyer and an investigative reporter. Have a list of about 5 really to-the-point questions ready and ask them in a calm manner. Don’t make a fuss, other than getting your questions asked and have your witnesses just be there for emotional support, not to make comments.
I’ll bet they’re not expecting you to come at all (because they KNOW it’s crass) or, if you do, to come with only Henry’s father or stepfather and to make a scene. They’ve probably got a movie going on in their heads about your reaction to closing the case, but you have the power to screw up their assumption.
If you don’t want to approve this, that’s OK with me. I just wanted to give you these ideas. It’s what I would do. And please, call Jane Velez-Mitchell and share this information with her.
As we’ve seen with Rupert Murdoch this past week or so, really big people and organizations can screw up and get caught. Maybe it can happen to KCSD.
I am absolutely livid on Henry’s behalf. We knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to witness.
If I were living in Knoxville, I would be frightened. Very, very frightened. Because if this farce is supposed to pass for a “thorough” investigation, there is no law, no order and nothing resembling justice in Knoxville. Just pray that nothing ever happens to someone you love, because the sheriff and D.A. have no interest in doing anything about it.
This is an outrage.
What can be done about it? What higher authority can deal with this?
Katie – do you think you will meet with them now? I’d like to see you get more information as to why they could not determine which drugs killed Henry. Could they not determine this because a full toxicology was not done???? If so – you might want to change your focus to that bit of negligence.
I’m sorry that they closed the case – but you may still get justice. Hang in there. Thoughts with you today.
so sorry.
I’m so sorry Katie. That letter made me upset, and I can’t imagine how you must feel. Nothing else I can say but I am sorry.
Forgive me if this has already been asked, but is there any hope for federal investigators to get involved? This clearly is too big for Knox County officials to handle (though it shouldn’t be).
There is always hope. Thanks Elle. – Katie
I’m so sorry.
Thinking and Praying for you all. This brings tears to my eyes. There is a greater purpose in all of this, and I am certain justice will eventually prevail. I wish with my whole heart that the people of your community band together and refuse to re-elect these shameful officials. The case may be closed but the fight is no where near over. Peace be with all of your family and all who have loved and lost your sweet boy.
So sorry to hear this. If anything positive can come from this, perhaps it’s the access to everything that had been closed during the active investigation (911 calls, etc.)
I have followed you since Henry was admitted to the hospital and Meredith at Like Merchant Ships linked to your blog and requested prayer. I have been dumbfounded along with everyone else at the way this entire situation has been mishandled. As a resident of TN, (I live in West TN), I am deeply concerned by the actions (lack of action) that Knox County officials have taken in this case. I do not know how you are still standing. My prayers continue to be with you and your family.
I guess that makes sense. He was using a variety of drugs and they came from several places. Which one exactly caused his death beyond a reasonable doubt? I know that only the experts have the evidence and not you or the public, but it does seem likely that it would be difficult to unravel which drug specifically was involved.
I’m impressed by his letter and particularly by his candor. He certainly did not write a form letter but instead acknowledged that you would be disgruntled. That took a great deal of professionalism and class.
I hope that forgiveness and peace are part of your future soon.
Michelle – It was indeed a very well written and articulate letter. However, Henry’s official cause of death per the medical examiner is “opiate toxicity.” Thus, we know with pretty good specificity what drug killed him. It was whatever OPIATE was illegally distributed to my son in the approximately 24 hours before paramedics found him unconscious, near death, and beaten all to hell inside the house trailer of two known OPIATE addicts and dealers. The information I just laid out in the previous sentence certainly narrows the possibilities, doesn’t it? Additionally, many successful drug-induced homicide cases involve multiple drug toxicity, meaning that the Medical Examiner could not say with specificity which specific drug of several in the victim’s system killed him. It could have been any of them, or the mix of them. So the claim that a drug-induced homicide case cannot be developed successfully without being able to link a specific drug among several known to have been distributed to the victim to his death is false. If they know drugs were distributed illegally to my son in the lead up to his death, they have a very strong start to develop a case. – Katie
I’m so sorry. I’m praying for strength and love to you in your continued struggle for justice and answers.
The posts that most touched my heart the most were when you spoke of rubbing your son’s feet and how you loved every inch of the body you helped to create. My son is two and I love to smell his little feet. I’m amazed at how beautiful our children are, I can only marvel at the miracle of it.
You are fighting for all of our children. God Bless.
Does your state have provisions for recall petitions and do those provisions extend to county officials? If this form of redress exists for you it would be a way to remove the sheriff and DA before the next election cycle. Keep fighting.
Ummmm….maybe they can join you in the fight…since you have obviously been more productive and successful than they have. I am so sorry to hear this and read the letter. I know it was expected, but you can’t help hold out a small shred of hope.