UPDATE: Students Died of Drug Overdose

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Posted: 11:13 AM May 20, 2008
Last Updated: 12:50 PM May 20, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press & WSAZ
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

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UPDATE TUESDAY 5/20:
ATHENS, Ohio (WSAZ) --New details were released Tuesday in the deaths of two college students found dead in a bathtub.

Preliminary autopsy results show that Kelly Armbruster and Christopher Theil probably died from a drug overdose.

The report also ruled out drowning as the cause of death -- there was also no sign of significant trauma.

Theil’s mother found the pair dead in a bathtub at the River Park Tower Apartments in Athens last month.

Armbruster was a student at Ohio University; Theil attended Hocking College. Police say they were boyfriend and girlfriend.

UPDATE TUESDAY:
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) - The mother of one of the two 22-year-olds found dead last weekend near Ohio University told a 911 dispatcher she thought they had drowned themselves in a bathtub.

In the 911 call made Saturday morning, Cynthia Welden said she pulled her son and his girlfriend out of the tub at an apartment in Athens.

A police report says Hocking College student Christopher Theil and Ohio University student Kelly Armbruster died sometime between 1 a.m. and 6:18 a.m., when authorities were called.

Athens Police Capt. Tom Pyle says there were no obvious signs of foul play. He says police are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death and says the full findings could take up to eight weeks.

Here is an excerpt from the 911 call:

Dispatcher: "What's going on there?"
Caller: "I just pulled my son and his girlfriend out of the bathtub."
Dispatcher: "Pardon?"
Caller: "I just pulled my son and his girlfriend out of the bathtub."
Dispatcher: "Okay. Are they breathing?"
Caller: "No."
Dispatcher: "Okay... Are they... Do you know..."
Caller: "No, they are not."

ORIGINAL STORY:
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) - Athens Police have released the names of two students found dead early Saturday at an apartment near Ohio University.

Police say the bodies of Kelly Armbruster of Powell and Christopher Theil of Athens were found inside an off-campus apartment at Riverpark Towers on N. McKinley Avenue.

Both were 22 years old.

Armbruster was a student at Ohio University in Athens. Her Facebook profile indicates that she graduated from the school in 2005, was from Dublin, Ohio, and was in a relationship with Theil.

Theil was a student at Hocking College in nearby Nelsonville.

Athens Police say they were called to the complex at 6:18 a.m. Saturday. They are not releasing other details of their investigation.

The Montgomery County Medical Examiner's office is conducting autopsies.

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This photo, titled "Chris & I," was posted on Armbruster\'s Facebook page.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: kitty on May 28, 2008 at 07:24 PM
no matter god will alway's be in these parent's life and no matter what happen's in life this couple will alway's be sadly miss and love.

Posted by: WHO on May 23, 2008 at 07:29 AM
WHERE DID THE DRUGS COME FROM!!!!

Posted by: a mother in tears on May 22, 2008 at 12:40 AM
I am very sick how that 911 call went, Cindy my prayers are with you, how many times does she have to say she have to repeat herself, wow I believe something needs to change,

Posted by: chucky on May 21, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Was this any big suprise to anyone? two people in a bathtub, dead? It's not like they both would've drown.

Posted by: A mom on May 21, 2008 at 04:19 PM
No matter how your children died .it still hurts the same.. as parents we always want to go first,,, life is hard to go on with out your babies.. love and prayers too both familys.

Posted by: Karen on May 21, 2008 at 12:27 PM
This is a sad situation. Kids open your eyes and see what drugs can do to you!! Even if your friends just say try it it's just one hit or it's just one pill it's not going to do anything to you. The answer is NO. You never know what can happen by just trying something you nver tried before. You could have a allergic reaction or it be to high of a milligram and it could cause death. Look at this young couple they might have not even known what they were taken or known the effects that it would cause. And it caused this fatal death. Kids if you think your having peer pressure call a hotline ask questions it could save your life and your friends life too. God Bless these young kids and everyone else that has this problem!!! You need to pray for help!! And my family and I will pray for all to be strong!!!

Posted by: Amy on May 21, 2008 at 09:12 AM
What a sad way to die. I am so sorry their families have to be going through losing the children, and it's even worse that their deaths could have been prevented. I just don't understand why so many people, feel that they need to be using some type of drug. Drugs only add to the problem, not take away problems. To: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 08:10 PM, not everyone else in the world has experiemented with drugs. I'm almost 30 years old, and have NEVER tried an illegal drug. For that matter, I've never drank alcoholic drinks, nor have I ever smoked. Mt parents put the fear of God in me when they told me to never get involved with those types of addictions.

Posted by: Hope on May 21, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Not everyone experiments with drugs. This and all the other tragic stories ARE lessons for those who are experimenting or thinking about experimenting with drugs. It's an oldie, but a goodie --- "Just Say No". It's not worth what you risk.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 08:10 PM
to whomever said this was a lesson to learn, those children i'm sure of were experimenting just the same as everyone else in the world but it's a tragic situation to know the things our children are doing are the things that are going to kill them but i guess that's the way life is. i do give much love and thoughts to the family and everyone this is just awake up call for our own children in society.

Posted by: College Student on May 20, 2008 at 05:41 PM
my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these two young college students.This is a tragic event that shouldnt of happened. However in response to Melinda, I do not think it's appropriate to label the drugs and drinking to "younger people." I being a college student have never experimented with drugs or even cigarettes for that matter. It's not just "younger people" doing this trust me I work in a hospital the majority of drug abusers is NOT younger people. Once again my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two young adults.

Posted by: Debbie on May 20, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Good grief, how many more will lose their lives because of drugs? I pretty much knew this is how this would turn out. Please people think before you use. 2 young people gone, what a waste.

Posted by: A Parent on May 20, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I cannot help but feel tremendous sorrow for the parents and loved ones of these two young adults. I cannot imagine the pain that the families are living. I don't know if this was a suicide type pact or just a tragic act of experimentation that went incredibly wrong. Truthfully, at this point it doesn't even matter for we may never know. It serves to show that life is fleeting and to appreciate each and every day that you are alive on this wonderous earth. Love your family and friends, help your fellow man and just try to be the best you can to your children. My thoughts and prayers go out to these two families in pain. I'm so sorry.

Posted by: Melinda on May 20, 2008 at 11:19 AM
HOW SAD YOU HEAR OF SO MANY YOUNGER PEOPLE THESE DAYS MIXING SO MANY DRUGS AND DRINKING ON TOP OF IT. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE PARENTS RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FIND YOUR OWN CHILD UNRESPONSIVE. ITS SO SAD TO HEAR THESE STORIES. I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR SHOES ONCE AND IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY I'M STILL HERE. BUT I HAD A CLOSE FRIEND/MANAGER WHO HER SON DIED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE AND SHE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME HER ONLY SON, SHE TALKS ABOUT VISITING HIS GRAVE AND DECORATING IT AND ITS SO SAD TO HEAR ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW ITS SOMETHING A MOTHER WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO FACE WHEN YOUR IN THAT CROWD. PLUS THEIR ARE SO MANY DOCTORS THAT FIGURE A QUICK SOLUTION IS A PILL AND THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM ALSO. MAY GOD COMFORT THE FAMILY AND GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH THIS. YOUR IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

Posted by: Just to clear it up on May 9, 2008 at 08:28 PM
I myself am a dispatcher AND I am in EMS. Let me explain some things to you folks. Enhanced 911 is the 911 system that can give an address as to where the call is coming from. A LOT of places STILL do not have this. Secondly, a lot of times when you call 911 from a cell phone it does not ring to the closest emergency dispatch. For example in our county, if you call 911 while in the city you do not get city 911, you get the county's 911. Also, while the dispatcher was on the phone with the victim's mother he may have been dispatching an EMS crew from a computer. For those of you who have never been on the dispatcher and/or emergency responder's side of these calls, please educate yourselves before bashing. God bless these families. That's all.

Posted by: June on May 9, 2008 at 12:11 PM
First, my heart goes out to the Family's of the 2 victims. I have been a dispatcher for several years and will be the first to say it is easy for others to 2nd guess what they would have done in this situation. I listened to the tape provided, and at no point did I hear anyone being dispatched or the dispatcher telling the mother that help was on the way. If help was on the way, maybe it would have been comforting for the mother to know. Please keep in mind that there things that happen "behind the scenes" that cannot always be heard over the 911 line. So before everyone starts blasting the 911 dispatchers, please have all the facts before assuming they did or did not do certain things.

Posted by: Cindy on May 9, 2008 at 08:23 AM
The dispatcher should have been able to walk Cindy through the process so that they could get an address. It's a terrible tragedy no matter what. I'm so sorry for Cindy and the Theil, Welden, and Armbruster families.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 02:48 AM
Just wanted to say I am sorry for such a tragic situation. May God grab you in his big hands and hold and comfort you. Love and Prayers

Posted by: Gale on May 8, 2008 at 07:06 PM
How in the world do two adults drown accidentally in a tub? One person might hit his/her head and/or pass out and go under the water, but I don't think the odds are very good that this will happen to two people at once.

Posted by: Anon on May 8, 2008 at 06:25 PM
In response to nonsense's post: She was calling from a cell phone. Therefore it doesn't get your address and they don't know where you're located. There are some cell phones that have chips in them that help them be located, but maybe she didn't have that or the 911 dispatchers don't have that functionality.

Posted by: VICKI on May 8, 2008 at 04:09 PM
A SAD LESSON TO BE LEARNED. ALSO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, SO IF HELP IS NEEDED TIME IS NOT BEING WASTED. ALOT OF CELL PHONES CANT BE TRACKED LIKE A HOUSE PHONE CAN. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS...

Posted by: Stacy on May 8, 2008 at 01:55 PM
OMG. How sad and tragic. That poor mother. The dispatchers that spoke with her must be ignorant. I can't believe how they spoke to her. I just feel terrible for her and the rest of the family involved here. If you are reading this Cyndie, may God Bless you and help you through this terrible tragedy. Your family and Kelly's family will be in our prayers.

Posted by: nonsense on May 8, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I thought that the purpose of 911 was so that as soon as you call they know exactly where you are calling from- This makes me wonder if its any faster than just calling EMS in our county- Why pay extra taxes if it doesnt speed up the process. My prayers go out to the families and especially to this mother

Posted by: Tonya on May 8, 2008 at 09:33 AM
These dispatchers are awful. Should they not know were you are calling from. Meaning address. Why would she be speaking to one dispatcher and then they transfer her to another dispatcher. How many time are they going to ask her if they are breathing!!!This is awful!!!This poor Mother. If this was my child I dont know if I could of handled it as good as she did. My prayers are with her and her family. So close to mothers day. A mothers day she will never forget!!May god help her through this..

Posted by: Anon on May 8, 2008 at 01:00 AM
WOW.... I'm speechless after listening to the 911 call above. I can't believe his mom held it together as much as she did. If I were in that situation I would have been completely hysterical and not very patient at all. That poor woman....I feel so bad for her.

Posted by: fay on May 7, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Maybe not foul play, but could be some type of intoxicant. Otherwise, I can't see this happening.

Posted by: Jill on May 7, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Has anyonae noticed how stupid the 911 dispatchers are? Just read the stupid questions they ask - I feel for the Mother when she called.

Posted by: What is this world coming 2 on May 7, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Strange!!! I'll have to wait to get the FULL story!!!!!

Posted by: Hailey on May 7, 2008 at 01:05 PM
There people go blaming MOM! Geezz and for your information...me and my hubby can both lay in out tub side by side it's big enough! So this tub couldve been big enought too!

Posted by: ... on May 7, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I agree, it is a bit odd that they both drowned themselves in the same bathtub. And why on Earth would they do that with his mother staying in the apartment? Sounds very suspicous.

Posted by: Anon on May 7, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Yes..listen to the 911 call..sounds like the mother was staying with them..then she went to bed and found them when she woke up..This is so sad..2 young people gone..I will keep the families in my prayers.

Posted by: Tiff on May 7, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Just to clarify, Mom's weekend is one of the biggest events of the year at our school. Literally thousands of mom's were here, so it's not strange that she would've been. I also seriously doubt this was a homicide, since OU didn't even send anything to students till days after their bodies were found. We have an emergency text messaging system and a email system to notify us of anything potentially dangerous. Finally, I'd like to point out it's a little ridiculous to expect the police to say right away how these people died, since you have to do an autopsy to see if someone actually drowned or not based on whether there is water in their lungs. It's pretty sad that you people are so hungry for details on tragedies like this that you'd rather hear rumors and speculation than exercise some patience in anticipation of facts.

Posted by: Melinda on May 7, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Poor mother MAY GOD GIVE HER THE STRENGTH, TO GRIEVE AND HEAL. THIS IS A SAD SAD TAPE OF THE CALL YOU CAN TELL SHE WAS IN DISTRESS. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR ANY PARENT WHO LOSES A CHILD IT IS THE HARDEST THING YOU CAN EVER GO THROUGH. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BAND TOGETHER AND HELP THOSE IN NEED LIKE THIS POOR WOMAN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!

Posted by: Jessica on May 7, 2008 at 08:31 AM
It says on the 911 call that she was in for mothers weekend. She could have been staying with them or even nearby. As Danielle stated - there are endless reasons. It's her SON. Not someone thats a stranger. If a stranger found their bodies, yeah it might be a little suspicious. We're talking about the man's mother. She could be reading this. How would you feel if you were in her shoes?

Posted by: DB on May 7, 2008 at 08:08 AM
2 adults are not gonna drown in a bathtub together......tub is not big enough..something is very fishy of this story........

Posted by: listen to the 911 tape on May 7, 2008 at 08:07 AM
If you listen to the 911 tape it states the mother was there for "Mothers Weekend" at the college and I believe she was staying with the son and his girlfriend. She went to bed and in the morning found them in the bathtub.

Posted by: me on May 7, 2008 at 07:41 AM
did you people not listen to and read the story it said the mother was there do to a Mothers week-end she was there from out of town! did you not hear the pain in the Mothers voice from the 911 call? I think people need to quit trying to be Judges and say a simple little prayer for the families involved!!!

Posted by: kim on May 7, 2008 at 07:34 AM
i don't understand how two grown people can drown in the bathtub must be a huge tub

Posted by: OMG on May 7, 2008 at 05:00 AM
umm hello David it said they died between 1 something and 6 something am.. not that the mother found them at that time! Do you really think the mother over took HER SON and his girl friend who were ADULTS and drown them in the bathtub..?????

Posted by: Danielle on May 7, 2008 at 02:45 AM
David, did you ever think that the mother was checking on him after she could not reach him. Or maybe its not uncommon for her to stop by lets say before work or could she have been taking something to him? There is an endless list of reasons she could have been there.. I think she is going through enough right now without someone making a comment suggesting foul play on her part. May God be with the families of both of them!

Posted by: this is crazy on May 7, 2008 at 12:38 AM
how can to adult people drown in a bath tub? and at the same time. come on people they are big people and a tub isnt that big to hold to people at once not lieng down, they had to be foul play!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 7, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Maybe mom was there because she'd been trying to get ahold of her son & couldn't?

Posted by: David on May 6, 2008 at 08:31 PM
So why was the mother at the apartment at 6am? Foul play?

Posted by: wvmom on May 6, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a tragedy, so young. My prayers are with the families of this young man and girl.

Posted by: Kyle on May 6, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I dont know

Posted by: Mother on May 6, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I am so sorry for your loss. I will pray for God to touch you in your time of need.

Posted by: anonomous on May 6, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I am sorry to hear of this tragedy...My thoughts and prayers go out to the two families of these two young beautiful people. This explains why the original logo was a drowning picture. Even before the cause of death was released.

Posted by: Jessica on May 6, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Obviously, they do not know if it is homicide or suicide yet. They have not determined that. Read the story that was posted today. As for the families and friends of these two - I send my condolences. I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling right now. Look to the lord for support & he will guide you w/his hands. God Bless You

Posted by: lisa on May 6, 2008 at 09:59 AM
sorry what happen i knw what its like to loose a loved one so my prayers go out to u

Posted by: Lisa on May 6, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of these to young lives. But I am wondering if drugs might be involved? Maybe they did not commit suicide but just passed out while in the tub and drowned that way. I guess we will have to wait for more information.

Posted by: prouse on May 6, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Drowned in a bathtub? HUH??

Posted by: Debbie on May 6, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I hate to point this out as 2 young people are dead, but 2 grown people don't just die in a bathtub by drowning. They had to be overcome or unconscious from something to drown in the tub. We're not talking a small child here. That would have to be one huge tub, unless you're talking about a hot tub,(even so, unlikely) and that wouldn't be a bath tub.

Posted by: So... on May 5, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Homicide, suicide? Can we not even get that much??

Posted by: Brandy on May 5, 2008 at 07:52 PM
To the families, so sorry to hear about this awful happening. Prayers go out to you!

Posted by: Crystal Thompson on May 5, 2008 at 01:36 PM
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My Heart goes out to both families. I hope you can find peace, and let god lead you all the way.

Posted by: Teryn on May 5, 2008 at 01:13 PM
RIP Chris and Kelly. I can't believe this. I've been with your sister since she found out, Chris. Everyone, please do anything you can do squash stupid rumors going around, their families do get online and you can't imagine the pain their going through until you see it first hand, as I have.

Posted by: Joanne on May 5, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Condolences to the family. Very sorry to hear of such a sad ending to such promising lives.

Posted by: a mom on May 5, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Bless the parents of these 2 students , it is a shame we can't send out kids to school any more. with out some one wanting to hurt our children. i hope they find out who did this fast. and put him away

Posted by: D on May 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Ok, i do not see an image that says drowning and I don't see a pic of atoe a Where are you all finding these pictures at???

Posted by: To I need to know on May 4, 2008 at 09:32 PM
If these were your friends, I promise you would have heard by now. Geeze.

Posted by: ? on May 4, 2008 at 01:25 PM
The toe tag pic is a little too much.

Posted by: Beth Ann on May 4, 2008 at 09:36 AM
How sad, my prayers are with the family and friends.

Posted by: I need to know!! on May 3, 2008 at 11:17 PM
When will the names be releaced!! I have a lot of friends that go up there! When will you know!!!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 3, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Why does the image say "drowning" when there isn't mention or water in the report, only that the cause of death haven't been released?

Posted by: ? on May 3, 2008 at 09:24 PM
The logo says drowning and the article says the cause of death has not been released. Could this be cleared up??

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