Jakob was a kind, gentle, and deeply feeling young man whose life was shaped by a tender heart and a sensitivity that ran far beneath the surface. He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back, who would brighten a room simply by caring, who never wanted to disappoint anyone, and who would do anything to lift someone’s spirits. Jakob moved through the world with genuine empathy, offering kindness even when he struggled to extend that same grace to himself.
He passed away in the early hours of April 22, 2024, at just 18 years old, due to fentanyl poisoning. The night before, he had visited a friend’s home in Franklin, Ohio, where he purchased a pill he believed would help him through the overwhelming emotions he battled daily. Unbeknownst to him, that pill was laced with fentanyl. Jakob returned to his grandparents’ home shortly before midnight. A few hours later, he was found unresponsive in the shower. His death was sudden, devastating, and entirely preventable.
Jakob’s life was marked by courage in the face of immense internal battles. From a young age, he struggled with self-esteem issues, depression, and anxiety. For years, he was prescribed medications that unintentionally intensified his symptoms, masking the early signs of bipolar disorder. Despite his mother’s concerns, it wasn’t until his second psychiatric hospitalization that a doctor accurately recognized Bipolar I disorder. Once properly diagnosed, treatment brought some relief, but the lithium that steadied his mind caused a severe acne outbreak that deeply affected him. Without telling anyone, Jakob slowly reduced his dosage, and the mania returned with heartbreaking force.
His family fought tirelessly to help him. He spent time with counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and crisis stabilization teams. He was admitted to residential treatment centers, attended intensive outpatient programs, and visited emergency departments when the darkness became too heavy. His mother rearranged her work life to be more present, even transitioning to remote work to provide a safer environment. His grandparents stepped in with unwavering love when continuous supervision became necessary. Through it all, Jakob tried—he tried so hard. But the system failed him. Insurance allowed only brief treatment episodes, far from the extended healing time research shows the brain truly needs.
In the days leading up to his death, Jakob’s mother sensed something was wrong. Though he had been living with his grandparents for added support, he still visited home often. On April 21, she followed his location on her phone, watching him travel to an unfamiliar place and then return home before midnight. It offered a momentary sigh of relief—he was home, she thought, and therefore safe. Later that night, she turned her phone on silent, hoping for a few hours of rest. At 4:58 a.m., Jakob’s father called with the words no parent should ever hear. In the hours that followed, Jakob’s family was forced to confront the reality they had feared for years.
A few days later, his parents, stepparent, and a close family friend went to the funeral home to see Jakob. The pain of that moment—the coldness of his skin, the white sheet, the stillness of someone who had once been so vibrantly alive—left a mark that time cannot erase. The funeral that followed was packed with people. Every chair filled, every wall lined, standing room only. For a boy who often felt like an outsider, that outpouring of love was a powerful testament to the impact he had on others.
Jakob’s mother has carried her grief with both honesty and purpose. In the months after his death, she built a small tribute box in her yard filled with Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and a photo of Jakob—a quiet act of love meant to protect others. She launched petitions calling for stronger laws around fentanyl-laced pills and for improved investigative standards in overdose cases. She pushed for accountability from law enforcement and continues to advocate for deeper awareness, better mental health care, and changes that might save another family from this pain. She works with local mental health and substance use disorder coalitions and remains committed to fighting for justice and reform in Jakob’s name.
Jakob’s life was not defined by his struggles but by the profound love he shared, the compassion he carried, and the gentle spirit that touched so many. He was a beautiful boy—sensitive, generous, and deeply loved by his mother, his father, his sister Anna, his brother Brad, his grandparents, his stepfamily, and everyone whose life he brightened. His absence is felt every day, but so is his presence, carried in the hearts of those who knew him best.
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