NICHOLAS ODZE - 4 yo(2009) - Coral Springs FL

Poster's Note: I am placing this story here, in the MURDERED Forum, as it would seem that at the very least the Mom is going to be charged with some type of felony. I do find it interesting that the Mom almost OD'd herself (possible suicide?) after this all went down. So sad...

Police are investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who may have overdosed on a prescription sedative.

The child's mother told police that on Sept. 9 she gave her son a Lunesta sleeping pill because he had not been able to stay asleep the previous two nights, police said.

The mother told police that 15 minutes after giving the child the pill,
she found him in her bedroom near several open prescription pill
bottles. Police don't know whether the child opened the bottles
himself, and reports do not indicate what happened next or the child's
condition at that time.

The next morning, the child's father went to the boy's bedroom and found him not breathing, police said. Doctors at Coral Springs Medical Center pronounced the child dead soon after.

No charges have been filed in the case.

"Anytime a child is found deceased it's obviously suspicious," said
Coral Springs Police Sgt. Joe McHugh. "The concern for us, especially,
was because [the mother] did give the child a sleeping pill ... You
should never give anyone a prescription pill that is not prescribed to
them."

Nicholas Odze's parents, Raisa Bernabe, 43, and Alan Odze, 51, could not be reached for comment.

Bernabe was hospitalized Thursday night due to a severe adverse
reaction to over-the-counter pain pills and on Friday afternoon
remained in intensive care, said the couple's attorney, Spencer
Aronfeld.

His firm began examining the details of the case Friday, including the police reports.

"Had Ms. Bernabe given her son a Lunesta pill, we don't know if that
was in fact the cause of his death. But, if she had, it certainly was
not intended to harm him," Aronfeld said.

He said that his firm also is trying to determine whether the child
could have gotten into the Lunesta bottle and taken any pills on his
own.

"We're looking into the possibility the [pill] bottle was improperly designed," he said.

The Broward Medical Examiner's Office has performed an autopsy, but
investigators are awaiting toxicology results to determine exactly how
the boy died. Those results are not expected for several weeks, McHugh
said.

It was unclear how many pills the child had ingested or when, police said.

Odze told officers that the child did not have any pre-existing medical
condition and had not been taking any medication, police said.

Police searched the family's apartment on Sept. 10, after the boy died,
and collected 68 prescription pill bottles from the home, according to
a search warrant filed in Broward Circuit Court on Wednesday. Nearly
all the medications, including the Lunesta, had been prescribed to Odze.

Odze is a retired police officer from New York and Bernabe works as an assistant in the Coconut Creek city manager's office.

Lunesta, a brand name for the drug zopiclone, can lower breathing and
metabolism and be lethal if taken in too high of a dosage, according to
manufacturer Sepracor. The drug has not been tested in children and is not approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for pediatric use.

REMOVE MY SON'S NAME FROM THIS WORTHLESS WEBSITE.

MY SON WAS NOT MURDERED!!!!

From Raisa To TomTerrific0420, Today at 12:57 pm

Dear xxxxing T. Tom:

My son Nicholas was NOT murdered you mother xxxxer.
Since the day my son was born, I fought for him.
I fought my job because I had to change the hours I worked because I only
wanted Nicholas to attend a farther away school because of the
curiculum and staff to kids ratio. The other schools in Coral Springs,
the pre-school had 25+ kids and he was being bitten and pushed around
and ignored by teachers. I complained to so called "decent people"
working there and they did nothing.
I fought for the best in medical care, clothes, time spent learning and exploring everything fun for him to do in Florida.
Do you know what songs he likes to sing at night, his favorite toy, his
favorite cartoons or if he preferred the beach or the park?
One night of terrible things gone wrong and I am living a lifetime of misery in this hell we call life.
Only when I am finally (and soon) able to leave this miserable life will I have some peace.

So know you, xxxxing blowJoe, and the mother xxxxing PD Coral Springs and
the public in general like vengenance. It is human nature. Humans are a
despciable race that like to see the suffering and torture of others.
Does anyone ever stop to see what is hapening to the person with the flat
tire or would they rather see misery by crashed and mangled vehicles
with a gurney.

So, remove my sons name from you xxxxing list. HE WAS NOT MURDERED.

Addressee's Note: At no point would I post something that was patently untrue. Sources have not indicated the cause of death, toxicology needed to be done. The fact remains a beautiful child is dead and it was either accidental or purposeful. If it was an accident it was due to neglect for keeping, by all accounts, dozens and dozens of medications available.

Dear Raisa,

I'm sorry for your tragic loss. I cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling. The loss of any child is so tragic, and I offer you my sincerest condolences.

That being said, I need to address your email. We are here to be a voice for those that have no voice. We report the news as we find it. Since you are Nicholas' mom, perhaps you could correct any misinformation that the mainstream media is reporting. We will listen with open hearts, Raisa.

All future communications should be directed to me, Raisa, since I am ultimately responsible for the content on this website. I will not remove this topic and I will not lock it. Your son deserves his voice to be heard.

~ Melissa

Admin wrote:Dear Raisa,

I'm sorry for your tragic loss. I cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling. The loss of any child is so tragic, and I offer you my sincerest condolences.

That being said, I need to address your email. We are here to be a voice for those that have no voice. We report the news as we find it. Since you are Nicholas' mom, perhaps you could correct any misinformation that the mainstream media is reporting. We will listen with open hearts, Raisa.

All future communications should be directed to me, Raisa, since I am ultimately responsible for the content on this website. I will not remove this topic and I will not lock it. Your son deserves his voice to be heard.

~ Melissa

---Thanks Admin! I appreciate and respect your judgment.

Thank YOU Tom! You live up to your name, you are Terrific! And you are a Trooper. I used to tell my babies to have a tee-total-terrific day, but I've come up with a new one just for you Tom. You are a Tee-Total-Terrific-Trooper, Tom. (TX5) Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of all the children that have no voice. Thank you for caring, and thank you for all your tireless efforts on behalf of the children. You so totally ROCK!

Does anyone know if the tox screen is back on Nicholas yet?

Admin wrote:Does anyone know if the tox screen is back on Nicholas yet?

---I am checking the web daily and there has been no update. I will e-mail MSM and LE today and see what I can discover.

Sent to Coral Springs Chief Foster:

Hello Chief Foster:

I am trying to follow up on a local story
on young Nicholas Odze (see story below). It
would seem that the tox screen has been completed and results would be
available.
Our Internet Blog, Justice 4 Caylee, is trying to
resolve this story and bring it to closure so that the parents can be cleared of
any involvement.
If possible could you see what you can do to
provide an update.
Thanks!

Tom



September 19, 2009|By Sofia Santana Staff Writer and Staff Researcher
Barbara Hijek and Staff Writer Bob LaMendola contributed to this report.

Police are investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who may have
overdosed on a prescription sedative.
The child's mother told police that on Sept. 9 she gave her son a Lunesta
sleeping pill because he had not been able to stay asleep the previous two
nights, police said.
The mother told police that 15 minutes after giving the child the pill,
she found him in her bedroom near several open prescription pill bottles. Police
don't know whether the child opened the bottles himself, and reports do not
indicate what happened next or the child's condition at that
time.

This case is still under investigation we have not received a decision from
the Medical Examiner on the determination of the cause of death.
We have no further information for release.

Thank You
Capt. Kevin P. Montagna
Coral Springs Police Dept.

I've been specifically waiting for these results. I wonder what the hold-up is? Thanks for checking, Tom.

Coral Springs police haven't determined what caused Nicholas Odze, a 4-year-old boy, to die in September.Sgt.
Joe McHugh said police expect to wrap up the case next year, when
additional toxicology tests determine whether the boy overdosed on a
Lunesta sleeping pill. No charges have been filed.

CORAL SPRINGS — The death of a
4-year-old boy whose mother gave him a prescription sedative to help
him sleep has been ruled a homicide, police said Wednesday.Nicholas
Odze died Sept. 10, shortly after his father found him unconscious and
not breathing on his bed in the family's Coral Springs apartment.His
mother, Raisa Bernabe, told police she had given the boy a Lunesta pill
the night before because he'd had trouble sleeping, police said. A
short time later, Bernabe reportedly told police, she found the boy in
the bathroom with several open prescription pill bottles. She was not
sure whether he had taken any of the pills.Toxicology tests from
the Broward Medical Examiner's Office found a combination of oxycodone,
oxymorphone, ibuprofen and eszopiclone in the child's system.
Eszopiclone is the clinical name for Lunesta, a sedative that can lower
the breathing and metabolism and can be fatal if taken in too high a
dosage.No charges have been filed, and detectives are continuing
their investigation, said police spokesman Sgt. Joe McHugh. The child's
body showed no indications of physical trauma, broken bones or internal
bleeding, according to initial exams after his death.Spencer
Aronfeld, the Miami attorney representing Bernabe and the child's
father, Alan Odze, said the couple was devastated by the loss of their
son."They would just be completely incapable of intentionally
harming Nicholas," Aronfeld said.
Police had searched the family's apartment and collected 68 prescription pill
bottles, according to a search warrant filed in Broward Circuit Court.
Nearly all the medications, including the Lunesta, had been prescribed
to Odze, 51, a retired police officer from New York. Bernabe works as
an assistant in the Coconut Creek city manager's office.Odze
told police investigating the death that he had told Bernabe not to
give the Lunesta to Nicholas, but he did not know she did it anyway,
according to the search warrant.

Thank you for the update. I have heard from Raisa and am awaiting her reply until I comment. This is incredibly sad.

no justice

Raisa, thank you for posting your email from Det. Shelton. I am gathering that you believe the media has reported misinformation regarding the toxicology report on Nicholas?