Mother whose son died of overdose funds rehab for dealer who sold her child drugs that killed him

A grieving mom who lost her 26-year-old son to a heroin overdose has revealed that she’s forgiven the dealer who sold her child the fentanyl-laced drugs that killed him – and is even funding his rehab. 

Rose Castro, 60, from Thousand Oaks, California, tragically found her son Jeremy dead in his bedroom in 2017, after overdosing on heroin unknowingly laced with fentanyl, which was supplied by 35-year-old Chris Thomas.

Shortly after, she set up a ‘sober living’ foundation in Jeremy’s honor – which provides housing for addicts who are in recovery and is funded entirely by donations.

After Jeremy’s death, Chris was charged with federal drug distribution and spent five weeks in federal custody before being sent to rehab.

Heartbroken Rose confronted him after the trial, demanding to know if he continued dealing after her son’s passing.

But after Chris opened up about his own struggles with addiction, the mom-of-three decided to enlist him within the foundation and help fund his recovery. 

A grieving mom who lost her son (pictured) to a heroin overdose has revealed that she’s forgiven the dealer who sold her child the drugs that killed him – and is even funding his rehab

Rose Castro, 60, from California, tragically found her son Jeremy dead back in 2017, after overdosing on heroin laced with fentanyl, which was supplied by Chris Thomas (pictured), 35

Rose Castro, 60, from California, tragically found her son Jeremy dead back in 2017, after overdosing on heroin laced with fentanyl, which was supplied by Chris Thomas (pictured), 35

Shortly after, she set up a 'sober living' foundation in Jeremy's honor, which provides housing for addicts who are in recovery and is funded entirely by donations. Jeremy is pictured as a kid

Shortly after, she set up a ‘sober living’ foundation in Jeremy’s honor, which provides housing for addicts who are in recovery and is funded entirely by donations. Jeremy is pictured as a kid

Rose said Chris was very ‘remorseful’ and that he said ‘he wished it was him who’d died’ instead of Jeremy.

Now, thanks to her generous offer, the former drug dealer is six months clean.

Rose said: ‘I was furious that someone in this town was walking around doing this to our kids and my son.

‘I wanted to know if this piece of s**t even cared about what he’d done and if he had a conscience or if he was still out there peddling.

‘I had to know if he was still selling and if he cared that my son was dead.

‘I needed answers. I told him I was Jeremy’s mom, I was a wreck and bawling and he apologized.

‘He was so remorseful. He said he wishes it was him who’d died and he felt guilty.’

Rose went on to explain that Chris told her he’d only sold the $20 heroin to Jeremy so that he didn’t suffer from withdrawal symptoms and was wracked with guilt over the fact that the drugs ultimately took her son’s life. 

After Jeremy's death, Chris (pictured with Rose) was charged with federal drug distribution and spent five weeks in federal custody before being sent to rehab

After Jeremy’s death, Chris (pictured with Rose) was charged with federal drug distribution and spent five weeks in federal custody before being sent to rehab 

Rose confronted him at the trial, but after Chris opened up about his own struggles with addiction, she decided to enlist him within the foundation and help fund his recovery

Rose confronted him at the trial, but after Chris opened up about his own struggles with addiction, she decided to enlist him within the foundation and help fund his recovery

After initially being furious at Chris, Rose said she came to the realization that Jeremy 'would want her' to forgive him

After initially being furious at Chris, Rose said she came to the realization that Jeremy ‘would want her’ to forgive him

Rose said Chris was very 'remorseful' and that he said 'he wished it was him who'd died' instead of Jeremy, who is pictured with his father as a child

Rose said Chris was very ‘remorseful’ and that he said ‘he wished it was him who’d died’ instead of Jeremy, who is pictured with his father as a child

‘He’d sold Jeremy the drugs so he didn’t [have withdrawal symptoms] but that $20 took his life,’ Rose explained. 

What is fentanyl? 

  • Jeremy overdosed on heroine that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroine
  • It is often added to drugs like cocaine or heroin to increase their potency or make them more profitable
  • According to DrugAbuseStatstics.org, less than 0.07 ounces of fentanyl causes certain death, and the drug is a factor in 53 per cent of drug overdoses
  • Last year, drug overdose deaths went up by 28.5 per cent. The CDC reported that more than 100,000 people lost their lives to drug-related overdoses in the 12-month period ending in April 2021 – a significant increase from 2020, when more than 78,000 people died of overdoses

‘I can’t imagine walking around with that kind of guilt at his age.’

Although she was initially furious at Chris, Rose eventually came to the realization that Jeremy ‘would want her’ to forgive him.

Jeremy’s death came amid a nationwide crisis over fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroine.

It is often added to drugs like cocaine or heroin to increase their potency or make them more profitable – which can lead to overdose, especially if the buyer doesn’t know that their drug has been laced.

According to DrugAbuseStatstics.org, less than 0.07 ounces of fentanyl causes certain death, and the drug is a factor in 53 per cent of drug overdoses. 

Last year, drug overdose deaths went up by 28.5 per cent. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 100,000 people lost their lives to drug-related overdoses in the 12-month period ending in April 2021 – a significant increase from 2020, when more than 78,000 people died of overdoses.

The rising death toll reflects the increasingly common – and deadly – cocktail of heroine and fentanyl. 

Since helping Chris, Rose said it felt like a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders and that it was ‘instrumental’ to her healing.

‘It was bothering me for so long and I knew that Jeremy would want me to forgive him so I did,’ she continued.

‘It was a gaping wound so I had to in order for me to heal. He was an addict just like Jeremy.

‘I reached out and asked if sober living had a room for him and I sponsored him and now he’s [six] months clean.

‘I know I’m doing the right thing. It’s so much better to watch someone live and love life probably for the first time ever rather than be bitter so it’s good for me too.

‘It takes a lot of energy to hate someone. You can’t blame anymore, you have to release all that and it’s a huge weight off my shoulders.

Rose found aspiring firefighter Jeremy (pictured together) slumped over his bed in 2017 - the day before he was due to start his new career as an emergency medical technician

Rose found aspiring firefighter Jeremy (pictured together) slumped over his bed in 2017 – the day before he was due to start his new career as an emergency medical technician

Since helping Chris, Rose (pictured with Jeremy before his death) said it felt like a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders and said it was 'instrumental' to her healing

 Since helping Chris, Rose (pictured with Jeremy before his death) said it felt like a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders and said it was ‘instrumental’ to her healing

Rose discovered that Jeremy was using heroin when he was 22, after he'd confessed to her daughter, Rebecca, 29. After that, Jeremy went in and out of rehab three times in five years

Rose discovered that Jeremy was using heroin when he was 22, after he’d confessed to her daughter, Rebecca, 29. After that, Jeremy went in and out of rehab three times in five years 

‘We don’t have to hate or be bitter. That’s instrumental in my healing and letting go of my pain. My son lost a battle but maybe Chris doesn’t have to.

‘I just thought, “We could have another grieving mother,” and I had the power within me and the resources [to stop that].’

Rose found aspiring firefighter Jeremy, 26, slumped over his bed in 2017 – the day before he was due to start his new career as an emergency medical technician.

The heroin he’d injected had, unknown to dealer Chris or Jeremy, been laced with fentanyl. And although Rose called an ambulance, Jeremy couldn’t be revived.

Rose recalled: ‘I knocked on his door, he didn’t answer and I thought maybe he’d left for work but his car was still outside so I picked the lock and found him slumped over.

‘Then I saw the needles. He’d been dead for a while. It was very traumatic.

‘When he didn’t open the door, I panicked. He was still dressed in his outfit from the night before.

‘It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, I was just screaming.’

She said it was a total 'shock' when she found out that her son (pictured before his death) was doing heroine, since he 'was a normal, healthy, athletic boy'

She said it was a total ‘shock’ when she found out that her son (pictured before his death) was doing heroine, since he ‘was a normal, healthy, athletic boy’

She described Jeremy (pictured center as a child) as 'wonderful, so caring and sensitive,' as well as 'very witty and smart'

She described Jeremy (pictured center as a child) as ‘wonderful, so caring and sensitive,’ as well as ‘very witty and smart’

Rose discovered that Jeremy was using heroin when he was 22, after he’d confessed to her daughter, Rebecca, 29. After that, he went in and out of rehab three times in five years.

‘It was a shock to me. He was a normal, healthy, athletic boy but he was addicted to heroin,’ she continued.

‘He was offered it at a party and that was it. I was devastated. I wasn’t equipped to deal with heroin, I knew it was a death sentence.

‘There was a family intervention and he went to rehab. When he finished, I thought he was cured until the second time.

‘I thought he was getting better, he wanted to be a firefighter so he was starting a job as an emergency medical technician and I thought he was going to make it in life.

‘Jeremy was wonderful, so caring and sensitive, he was very witty and smart.

‘The first time he saw a homeless person when he was around 11, he gave him some money and had tears streaming down his face.

‘He always said that his addiction had nothing to do with his upbringing but that he’d made a bad decision.’ 

Chris said he’s hugely grateful to Rose for the help she’s offered him since Jeremy’s death.

Chris said: ‘When Rose approached me I felt so ashamed and guilty and my heart just sank.

‘I couldn’t comprehend what had happened and what I put her family through.

‘I was very surprised when she first offered to help but I felt I didn’t deserve it and could only think about dying.

Chris, who is now six months sober, said he's hugely grateful to Rose for the help she's offered him since Jeremy's death - and credits her with saving his life

Chris, who is now six months sober, said he’s hugely grateful to Rose for the help she’s offered him since Jeremy’s death – and credits her with saving his life

Rose said she felt compelled to help people suffering with drug addiction and believes that if something similar had already been set up, it might have saved Jeremy's (pictured) life

Rose said she felt compelled to help people suffering with drug addiction and believes that if something similar had already been set up, it might have saved Jeremy’s (pictured) life

‘I am very grateful to Rose because I had no hopes for the future and was content with dying in my addiction and just disappearing.

‘I still have issues dealing with the past and the part I played in Jeremy’s death but it is no longer debilitating for me.’

He is now six months clean and still living in sober living housing, and he credits Rose with saving his life.

‘If I wasn’t here right now, I would have been back in prison or dead,’ he explained.

‘I’m at a point where I don’t want to lose the life I have started to build and want to honor Jeremy properly.

‘Rose has been amazing to me as she tried to help me for so long without giving up and even now she checks in on me to make sure I’m doing okay.

‘My family even speaks to her sometimes. She didn’t help give me my life back – she gave me a life.’

Rose said she felt compelled to do something to help people suffering with drug addiction and believes that if something similar had already been set up, it might have saved Jeremy’s life.

Rose said: ‘No one talks about addiction, I thought I was the only one in the town and everyone was judging me.

‘I knew I had to do something. We wanted to do something more than rehab, which is only 30 days.

‘If Jeremy had access to something like this he might be here today.

‘They get up at a certain time, go to a meeting, work out and then home so it’s very structured, which is what an addict needs.

‘People are normally quite shocked when I tell them that I’m helping the person who gave Jeremy drugs but it’s not totally selfless.

‘It’s so gratifying to see someone who wanted to die want to live.’

You can donate to The Jeremy Castro Foundation here.

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