The St. Bernard Sheriffs Department says they have arrested a couple in yet another case of failing to call for emergency help when someone has overdosed on drugs.
In the latest incident, 24-year-old Kristopher Howse and his wife, 25-year-old Shelly, both of Meraux, were booked with negligent homicide and obstruction of justice in the death of 24-year-old Chase Julian of Arabi.
Chief of Detectives John Doran says just as in a previous case, the current suspects allowed someone to die rather than contact authorities about a possible overdose.
"The common denominator is that they were afraid of jail," Doran said.
The couple remains in the St. Bernard Parish Prison.
Listen to David Blake's interview with Doran:
Officials said the Howses also were booked with contributing to the delinquency of their young daughters, who were in the home when Julian died.
Also this week Doran says a 48-year-old man got a sentence of 5 years in prison for letting his son-in-law die, after putting the victim in a car and parking it around the corner.
"It's easy enough to call 911, you might save somebody's life, regardless of the circumstances," according to Doran.
Doran blames the continuing problem of heroin abuse in both of these cases