Thomas Larson Bodnarczuk stood apart from societal expectations, exhibiting an unconventional wisdom beyond his years. He sought out individuals—often younger peers—who were ignored, mistreated, or marginalized by the “in-crowd” and befriended them, helping them feel accepted for who they were. Many of these friendships became some of his closest and longest-lasting connections. Thomas remained a self-professing Christian throughout his life. He was baptized at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Breckenridge, Colorado, on April 27, 2003, and publicly reaffirmed his faith on March 3, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado, where he embraced the vows made on his behalf as a child.
On the evening of May 1, 2021, Thomas returned home from his shift at Kohl’s department store at 9:10 PM. He spoke briefly with his parents about work and how he was doing before heading to his room. That was the last time they saw him alive. Seeking to relax after work, he took what he believed to be a prescription Xanax pill, purchased for fifteen dollars via Snapchat. Around 9:30 PM, he ordered food through DoorDash—but never lived to eat it. The pill was a counterfeit, laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Thomas died in his bed around 10 PM that night. The following morning, on May 2, 2021, his father discovered his lifeless body while attempting to wake him for their online church service.
Four days later, the police sergeant leading the investigation called to inform the family that an arrest had been made in connection with Thomas’ death. A preliminary toxicology report confirmed that the pill contained three times the lethal dose of fentanyl. The circumstances of Thomas’ passing made it clear—he was deceived by a counterfeit prescription medication. He did not “overdose”; he was poisoned.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney sought to hold the individual responsible for selling the pill accountable. However, a 2021 California Supreme Court ruling on the charge of great bodily injury complicated the case. The ruling determined that merely providing a controlled substance that later resulted in harm was insufficient to prove that the seller inflicted great bodily injury. As a result, the defendant was not charged in Thomas’ death but instead faced five felony charges related to the possession and transportation of fentanyl and Xanax.
The legal proceedings dragged on for over a year and a half, with the defendant making multiple court appearances while attempting to minimize the consequences. Ultimately, a plea deal was accepted: three years in custody, with the first year served in county jail and the remaining two years on probation. The judge included a strong admonishment in the sentencing records, ensuring that if the defendant reoffended, they could face murder charges. However, despite the sentencing, the defendant was released in just six months—down to the day.
Throughout the two-year legal process, the District Attorney provided unwavering support to Thomas’ parents, standing as an island of excellence amid a dysfunctional legal system.
The complete story of Thomas’ life and death is described in Mark Bodnarczuk’s memoir entitled, Finding New Life After the Death of My Son: Grace and Forgiveness in the Age of Counterfeit Pills and Fentanyl Poisoning, available worldwide on websites like www.amazon.com.
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