Samantha Reid
Encyclopedia
Samantha Reid grew up in the Detroit, Michigan
Metropolitan Area. She came to national attention after her death at the age of 15.
In the company of three young men at another man's apartment, Samantha and her friends, Melanie and Jessica, were offered drinks. Samantha and Melanie asked for Mountain Dew
- Jessica asked for a Screwdriver
(orange juice and vodka). The young men brought them the beverages, to which they had added either gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
(GHB) or gamma-butyrolactone
(GBL). Melanie stated that her face had become numb soon after, and then both of the girls passed out. The boys at first did not think anything was wrong, since both GHB and alcohol can cause those drinking them to pass out if they drink too much of it and this is not usually a medical emergency. However, Jessica noticed later that they were having difficulty breathing. The boys eventually drove her to the hospital, but Samantha stopped breathing on the way there. Both of the young women were put on life-support, but Samantha died roughly eighteen hours later.
The three young men who poisoned her were found guilty of poisoning and involuntary manslaughter, while the older man who owned the apartment was found guilty of an accessory charge, and possession of GHB. They were sentenced to 5–15 years in prison.
Reid's death inspired the legislation titled the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000. This law categorized GHB as a Schedule I controlled substance according to the Controlled Substance Act.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Metropolitan Area. She came to national attention after her death at the age of 15.
In the company of three young men at another man's apartment, Samantha and her friends, Melanie and Jessica, were offered drinks. Samantha and Melanie asked for Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
- Jessica asked for a Screwdriver
Screwdriver (cocktail)
A screwdriver is a popular highball drink made with fresh orange juice and vodka. Outside the US, it is often referred to as "vodka and orange"...
(orange juice and vodka). The young men brought them the beverages, to which they had added either gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid , also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and sodium oxybate when used for medicinal purposes, is a naturally occurring substance found in the central nervous system, wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all animals in small amounts. It is also categorized as an illegal...
(GHB) or gamma-butyrolactone
Gamma-Butyrolactone
gamma-Butyrolactone is a hygroscopic colorless oily liquid with a weak characteristic odor and is soluble in water. GBL is a common solvent and reagent in chemistry and is used as an aroma compound, as a stain remover, as a superglue remover, as a paint stripper, and as a solvent in some wet...
(GBL). Melanie stated that her face had become numb soon after, and then both of the girls passed out. The boys at first did not think anything was wrong, since both GHB and alcohol can cause those drinking them to pass out if they drink too much of it and this is not usually a medical emergency. However, Jessica noticed later that they were having difficulty breathing. The boys eventually drove her to the hospital, but Samantha stopped breathing on the way there. Both of the young women were put on life-support, but Samantha died roughly eighteen hours later.
The three young men who poisoned her were found guilty of poisoning and involuntary manslaughter, while the older man who owned the apartment was found guilty of an accessory charge, and possession of GHB. They were sentenced to 5–15 years in prison.
Reid's death inspired the legislation titled the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000. This law categorized GHB as a Schedule I controlled substance according to the Controlled Substance Act.