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Man Accused of Fatal Heroin Injection Suffered from PTSD, Family Says

December 29, 2011|By Ted Land | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Sean Warner, the 26-year-old man Anchorage police say administered a fatal dose of heroin Friday to 14-year old-Jena Dolstad, is a Navy veteran -- who, according to his family, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“They did medicate him and unfortunately, his medications, it didn’t seem to be enough, so he went to the streets,” said Doug Tweedie, Warner’s uncle, who spoke with KTUU from his home in Bend, Ore.

“Sean was pretty much a regular guy until heroin came into his life,” Tweedie said.

Warner is in custody, facing charges of delivering a controlled substance to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and evidence tampering.

Now he could face more a more serious manslaughter charge for causing Dolstad’s death.

“I feel that whatever Sean is responsible for, he should be held accountable,” said Angela Tweedie, Warner’s aunt.

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Warner always excelled in school, said the Tweedies, who raised Warner through his childhood years during times when his biological parents were struggling with drugs and alcohol.

He was took part in the ROTC and Sea Cadets programs, was an EMT volunteer, and went on to join the Navy at age 18.

“He was definitely going down the right path and all of us were very proud of him,” said Angela Tweedie.

Warner served as a Navy medic in Afghanistan, where he also helped train the Afghan Army. He came home to Alaska in 2009, bought some property, and held a steady job.

But something was wrong, said the Tweedies.

“You know there was signs of sleep problems, a lot of nervousness,” said Angela.

Tweedie said a VA doctor prescribed Warner medication for PTSD, but it apparently wasn’t enough and Warner started to self-medicate with heroin.

“Every family member that had any contact with him would always encourage him to get some help,” said Doug Tweedie. “There was some choices there that he just chose not to do.”

“We couldn’t have never ever guessed that it would’ve been this bad," he said.

Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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