WMBD 31 Exclusive: Mother Taking Action after Dunlap Teen's Death
By: Meg Marshall WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: May 16, 2012
PEORIA- Toxicology results are in for the death of a 16 year old Dunlap student.
Joshua Olt was found unresponsive in his bedroom on April 29th.
He died later that evening at Proctor Hospital.
The Peoria County Coroner released Olt's official cause of death as opiate intoxication.
The coroner says Olt had heroin in his blood at the time of his death.
For the first time, we're hearing from Josh Olt's mother.
WMBD's Meg Marshall sat down with her Wednesday to talk about Josh's life and how his parents are taking action in the wake of his death.
It's been two weeks since Dr. Tamara Olt learned her youngest son, Josh, had died.
His mother says the sixteen year old sophomore was loved by his friends at Dunlap High School, where he earned the nickname "Jolt"
Those closest to Josh say he was a big teddy bear, always looking for a way to make others laugh. A happy, normal teenager, who made a tragic mistake.
Tamara Olt tells WMBD, "We had no idea our son was experimenting with such a dangerous drug."
While she now knows the medical cause, she's still struggling to understand the reason Josh is gone.
Olt says, "I keep asking the question why? And nobody has that answer. I have to find that answer."
It's Tamara's mission to make sure other parents don't feel that same sense of shock. She's started a foundation in Josh's name, aimed at helping to spread drug and alcohol awareness.
Dr. Olt says she wants people to know "I'm not going to shrink quietly into the night. I'm not going to hide away, embarrassed and ashamed of my son. Cause I need to make a difference."
Tamara hopes by speaking out, others will do the same; talking with their own children about Josh, and understanding that his story could happen to anyone.
As Dr. Olt says, "I'm still waiting for him to walk through the door and be with us again. I don't want any parent to have to feel the pain that we feel now."
A celebration of Josh's life will be held this Saturday at Dunlap High School at two in the afternoon. The public is welcome to attend. Contributions to the Joshua Olt Memorial Fund can be made at Heartland Bank in Peoria.
Joshua Olt was found unresponsive in his bedroom on April 29th.
He died later that evening at Proctor Hospital.
The Peoria County Coroner released Olt's official cause of death as opiate intoxication.
The coroner says Olt had heroin in his blood at the time of his death.
For the first time, we're hearing from Josh Olt's mother.
WMBD's Meg Marshall sat down with her Wednesday to talk about Josh's life and how his parents are taking action in the wake of his death.
It's been two weeks since Dr. Tamara Olt learned her youngest son, Josh, had died.
His mother says the sixteen year old sophomore was loved by his friends at Dunlap High School, where he earned the nickname "Jolt"
Those closest to Josh say he was a big teddy bear, always looking for a way to make others laugh. A happy, normal teenager, who made a tragic mistake.
Tamara Olt tells WMBD, "We had no idea our son was experimenting with such a dangerous drug."
While she now knows the medical cause, she's still struggling to understand the reason Josh is gone.
Olt says, "I keep asking the question why? And nobody has that answer. I have to find that answer."
It's Tamara's mission to make sure other parents don't feel that same sense of shock. She's started a foundation in Josh's name, aimed at helping to spread drug and alcohol awareness.
Dr. Olt says she wants people to know "I'm not going to shrink quietly into the night. I'm not going to hide away, embarrassed and ashamed of my son. Cause I need to make a difference."
Tamara hopes by speaking out, others will do the same; talking with their own children about Josh, and understanding that his story could happen to anyone.
As Dr. Olt says, "I'm still waiting for him to walk through the door and be with us again. I don't want any parent to have to feel the pain that we feel now."
A celebration of Josh's life will be held this Saturday at Dunlap High School at two in the afternoon. The public is welcome to attend. Contributions to the Joshua Olt Memorial Fund can be made at Heartland Bank in Peoria.
Comments
I sincerely hope that the parents of Joshua's classmates are having candid conversations with their young adults. They have been educated about the dangers of drug use. They know better. If they choose to make poor decisions, they risk their lives and may irrevokably impact the lives of those around them.
Laura L.
May 31, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Herion has been the silent drug among teens since the growth of using in 2010. Everyday I open the paper and see more and more teens that are dying from ODs. My heart goes out to you and your family with your loss. Something really does need to change with these teens and the spread of drug use. I congradulate you are holding your head up high and wanting something done, not just sweeping it under rug.
Shantel B.
May 17, 2012 at 11:01 am
