A grieving family is seeking justice after their loved one, a student at UNC Chapel Hill, passed away from an overdose.
As a young freshman at UNC Chapel Hill, Elizabeth “Gracie” Burton, from Charlotte, tragically passed away in March. The state medical examiner revealed that she was found in a Duke University dorm room with a fatal combination of alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl in her system. It’s heart-wrenching to hear of such a young life being cut short due to the dangers of substance abuse.
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As of yet, there have been no charges filed in relation to her passing.
On Wednesday, her family appeared in federal court in Greensboro in relation to the case.
According to Channel 9’s Evan Donovan, the Burton family’s attorney expressed their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a lack of justice for their daughter.
According to those who knew Burton, she was a truly lovely individual both inside and out. However, it seems that she may have made some unfortunate choices that led her down a negative path.
According to Chris Adkins, the attorney representing the family, the autopsy performed after her death was just one of many errors made.
According to Adkins, the report clearly indicates the presence of fentanyl, yet it was not considered as the cause of death. Unfortunately, no one has been held accountable for Gracie’s demise.
During the court proceedings on Wednesday, Adkins pleaded with the judge to recognize the Burton family as victims in the federal case against Patrick Rowland, a former Duke University student who was reportedly with Burton on the night she overdosed.
The charges brought against Rowland by the federal authorities are quite extensive. They claim that he utilized a mobile phone to purchase drugs during the seven months prior to Burton’s demise.
According to court records, Rowland acquired the narcotics from Cye Frasier, who is commonly referred to as the “Durham Barber.”
Frasier and Carlisa Allen have been charged by prosecutors in connection with the death of 23-year-old Joshua Zinner from Raleigh. It has been reported that Zinner overdosed just days after the death of Burton.
According to Adkins’ statement, there was no investigation conducted by Duke University campus police or the Durham Police Department regarding Burton’s demise. Therefore, no charges have been filed at either the state or federal level in connection with her death.
Donovan posed a perplexing question to Adkins, inquiring why the Duke investigators and Durham police didn’t investigate Gracie’s death. He furthered his query by asking why state prosecutors hadn’t levied any charges in this case.
Adkins pondered for a moment before acknowledging, “That’s actually quite an intriguing question. It’s a mystery to me why Duke University didn’t initiate an investigation or release an incident report regarding the matter.”
Located in the heart of Durham, Duke University is nestled within the city limits.
According to Channel 9’s sources, it was revealed that the Duke University Police Department holds the primary responsibility for investigating any incidents that happen on campus, as per the Durham police.
Despite numerous emails sent to Duke University requesting information, Channel 9 has yet to receive a response.
According to Adkins, the family intends to file a motion to become victims in the Fraser/Allen case as well. It’s worth mentioning that the case is scheduled to go to trial in November, and the duo is facing charges related to selling drugs that led to Zinner’s death.
According to a statement issued by UNC, the university does not send out notifications about student deaths to the entire campus as it can be triggering and may cause more harm than good.
In regards to public announcements, the school has made it clear that it values the privacy and wishes of families. This demonstrates a commitment to respecting the personal choices of students and their loved ones.
