DeathSpace: A Collection of Dead Myspace Users

Myspace Doesn't End At Death

Ryan Scamman-Rawson, 18
-- Drug Overdose

Published Monday, April 24, 2006 by Admin | E-mail this post

[4/15/06]

STRATHAM - Police have turned the investigation into the death of an 18-year-old Stratham man over to the county attorney’s office because the young man was related to Chief Michael Daley’s family.

Ryan Scamman-Rawson, 18, died unexpectedly at his home Saturday morning.

Ryan is a distant relation of N.H. House Speaker W. Douglas Scamman and his wife, state Rep. Stella Scamman, both of Stratham.

Ryan’s mother, Kelly Scamman, told the Herald the cause of death was a drug overdose. She said the family is stunned because the action is totally out of character for her son.

"His friends are all shocked that it was him," said Scamman. "He was the one that always told kids not to do them (drugs)."

Scamman said her son took the drugs after being stopped by police for a possible motor vehicle violation.

"He took them because he didn’t want to get busted," said Scamman. "He was scared."

Scamman said she had no idea why her son had the drugs in the first place, that she never had a thought about him doing drugs.

Chief Daley’s wife, Shirley, is the Stratham town clerk, and a member of the Scamman family. The chief could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Selectman David Short - who knew Ryan, and said he was a good kid - said he would suspect that 80-90 percent of the high school has had some level of involvement with drugs.

"It’s everywhere and just a question of how far they go exploring," said Short. "Still you can’t base how far on the end result here. It seems to me it was a kind of panic thing."

Stratham Police Sgt. Richard Gendron said the authorities are completing work they had started on the investigation and will send everything to the county attorney.

"Because of the family relationship with the chief, we are removing ourselves from this," said Gendron on Tuesday. "I have been in contact with the county attorney this morning."

Gendron would not officially confirm the death as a drug overdose. He said they can’t say for sure until toxicology reports come back.

"It’s a tragic situation," said Gendron. "A kid that age - he had his whole life ahead of him."

Stella Scamman said she and the House speaker were "distant" relatives of Ryan and that the couple plans to attend his funeral.

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