Mom hopes suspect in heroin OD gets life

Debbi Danner, with mementos of her son, Jason, during an interview last summer after his death from a heroin overdose. (Lebanon Voice file photo)

ROCHESTER - The Rochester mom who lost her son to a fatal heroin overdose is speaking out about a grand jury's indictment of the woman who allegedly supplied her son with the deadly fix.

A week ago today Jennifer Harriman, 33, of 141 Flagg Road, Gonic, was formally charged in the dispensing of the drug that resulted in the death of Jason Danner of Rochester. Harriman faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Debbi Danner, Jason Danner's mom, told The Lebanon Voice today that she hates to be vindictive, but she hopes Harriman gets a life sentence.

"Even then her family will still have her," Debbi Danner said. "My son is gone forever."

Debbi Danner said it was painful to watch her son's decade-long addiction to heroin, but nothing compared to the emptiness of not having him at all.

"All I have are my photos, keepsakes and memories," she said. "I would give anything for just one more day with Jason, a hug and kiss, to hear the words, 'I love you, mom.' You just can't imagine what it's like to lose a child until it happens to you."

Jason Danner

Jason Danner overdosed from the heroin on June 23. Doctors at Frisbie Memorial Hospital induced a coma in an effort to save him, but two days later Debbi Danner was told it was hopeless and they pulled the plug on his life support. His heart stopped beating the following Monday, making for a week of misery and despair for family and friends who held constant vigils in hopes he would somehow miraculously recover. Jason Danner was 30 years old when he died.

Harriman's initial arraignment in Strafford County Superior Court will be April 3, and Debbi Danner said she plans to be there for it and all of the trial as well.

She said she knows a guilty verdict against Harriman won't bring her son back, but thinks Harriman "should suffer the consequences and not be able to put another mom through what I'm going through.

"Nearly a year later and I still struggle with Jason being gone every day," said Debbi Danner.