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SALT LAKE CITY — News of a woman left to die after suffering a drug overdose earlier this week brings back tough memories for at least one Utah family. They're hoping their own daughter's death can help serve as a warning.
Police were led to a body left behind this auto parts store off North Temple on Monday night. Shortly after, three friends of the victim were behind bars, accused of moving her dead body.
The Sorich family has been through this before.
Amelia Sorich was just eighteen years old when she died of a drug overdose in June 2005. Her body was dumped by friends in the foothills above Bountiful.
Her mom, Kathryin Sorich, believes she would still be alive today if one of them would have called for help.
"She was gifted, talented, ambitious," Sorich said. "She was the joy and pride of our lives. When we lost her, our hearts were broken."
Monday night, Salt Lake City Police found the body of 45-year-old Eva Montanez. According to court documents, three friends moved her body there after she apparently died of a drug overdose at a nearby home.
A recovering cocaine and heroin addict herself Emily Skillings says she lost one of her own friends in a similar tragedy.
"You're not thinking at all, and it's a very selfish thing, to be in your addiction. You can't see the whole picture," she said. "They were too nervous to take her to the hospital because they thought that they would get charges."
Today, Skillings is living sober, with the help of counselors at New Roads Treatment Centers, like Corey Markisich, who says people often let their addictions drive their actions.
"Their brains are hijacked," she said. "In that moment, they really unfortunately when they're so addicted to something, they're not thinking rational, and they're really trying to cover themselves."
At the time, Sorich's death was one of several that prompted legislation for stricter penalties against those who fail to get help for overdose victims. The proposed law never passed, but Kathryn Sorich says the reasons to get help are still compelling and clear.
"I think about her every second, every minute of every day," she said. "Nothing that's going to happen to you is worse than living with knowing you could have saved a life."
Markisich also says that often overdose victims may appear dead, but can actually be revived by paramedics.
Adding to the reasons why in those cases, people should always call for help.
