Maryland Letters First Lady Dawn Moore

Tiffinee Scott’s Daughter

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am Tiffinee "Tee" Scott, mother of Tiarra Renee Brown-Lewis, from Baltimore, Maryland,
advocate, and State Lead for Maryland's Drug Epidemic Wall. I'm requesting your support to
place a permanent memorial wall to honor the lives lost to the drug epidemic. Whether local,
state, or government placement of the wall, parents, and community members at large who have
experienced the effects of trauma, from death, loss, and grief due to the prescription drug and
illicit drug supply, epidemic, compassion, and system failures need a symbol of recognition-a
stationary memorial, a symbol awareness and healing.
In Baltimore last year, we lost 940 people to this disease, and based on Baltimore City opioid
settlement litigation, Baltimore city alone accounts for 1 percent of all lives lost due to opioiddrug-related
deaths across the country. The drug epidemic’s impact has riddled the United
States with loss. As a City and State, the need to support individuals, families, and children from
loss is critical.
As a parent of two adult children residing in Baltimore, Maryland, I'm fully aware of the impact.
In 2020, my daughter Tiarra was one of the victims of the drug epidemic. Tiarra, aged 28, had a
beautiful smile, a memorable laugh, and a big heart. She also lived with the painful illness of
Sickle Cell disease. Diagnosed at birth, Tiarra was no stranger to the healthcare system. Her
care was adequately supported and managed until the introduction of the prescription drug
Oxycontin. Within days, our lives changed. Tiarra was immediately dependent. The medication
changed all aspects of her youth to adulthood. Opioids impacted every part of her life. Stole her
joy and destroyed her future.
Prescription drugs are made, manufactured, marketed, and prescribed to support individuals
who require health aid. Not dependency nor death.
On May 17, 2020, as usual, I entered Tiarra's apartment, with the smell of a recent shower still
lingering in the room, clean sheets, a tray table, and half of a sandwich, meds, and juice. Tiarra
appeared comfortable as if she was sleeping- She was not. I found her unresponsive and not
breathing. She believed she could, so she did! Tiarra made every attempt to care for herself,
made large postings of appointments, lists, and journals, and always prepared for an emergency.
She was wearing the life-alert, emergency response push-button watch, which she never had the
opportunity to activate. She was wearing a shirt that read, “What's not to love about me."
In all the efforts of calling 911 and the arrival of First Responders, within minutes, I was accosted
by police, with Tiarra lying deceased- I was questioned repeatedly like a criminal, then by the
coroner office; with no regard for the circumstances. In tears, I stopped the room and yelled with
all I had, "A mother just lost a child right here- Don't you see me? Don't you see her". I realized a
few things in those moments. My daughter was gone. I knew my protection was the (Good
Samaritan Law). So, why was I interrogated as opposed to being supported? Our city and
service providers need healing.

I'm a mom. Hopeless is the immediate word that comes to mind; the second is powerless.
Powerless is the feeling you have as a parent when losing a child. Powerless over something I
could not control; illness, opioids, death, and loss.
Tiarra lived with chronic pain and mental and behavioral health conditions; all treatable. Never
did I request to aid my child to an early death. After her loss, I cleaned her apartment with large
amounts of prescribed medication; some fully packaged, including Narcan. There was enough
medication to fill a king-size bed in the bag.
She was prescribed to death. Her death doesn't have to be in vain. Sadly, my wife, I, and my
family experienced a second loss.
On February 21, 2023, we lost our second daughter from cardiac arrest from an illicit substance.
She was also unresponsive and not breathing at home in bed. She never recovered from the
loss of her sister. The emotional pain of loss for siblings is often unbearable and unnoticed. She
missed her sister. She spoke and journaled about the emotional pain of a sibling often. On
President's Day, we received the call. We are and were devastated.
The nondisclosure of our second daughter's name is to protect her minor children, ages 1 and 8.
The stigma associated with individuals who use prescribed medications-or illicit drugs who
experience medical emergencies such as an overdose are victims.
Please support the effort of placing a permanent memorial. A place where Maryland's parents,
community, and visitors can understand our elected officials has taken actionable steps to
support parents, loved ones, families of loss, and the community. We have a virtual memorial
wall with shared photos and one with names. It's accessible virtually to view, upload, and share
information. I would be honored to have the opportunity to discuss how we can move the wall
forward with a permanent structure.
Again, Mrs. Moore, with your support, families will embrace a sense of healing and belonging.
Our voices will not be silent nor absent, and our children, loved ones, and families are not
forgotten. Tiarra's photo and the virtual frame are below, and the link for the virtual wall is also
listed.
In the interest of children, parents, families, and the community,
Tiffinee Scott, MD State Lead
tscott@mpacmd.org

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April Babcock’s Son

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
My name is April Babcock, I lost my son Austen Connor Babcock January 26, 2019,
shortly after his 25th birthday in Dundalk, MD Baltimore County. Not a day will ever go by
that I will not think of or miss my son.
Anytime anyone disguises a harmful substance in anything for another person to consume
without their knowledge; that is the very definition of a poisoning. My son did not
overdose, my son was poisoned by illicit fentanyl. All illicit drug deaths are poison to your
body. The term overdose implies there is a safe dose to take, you take too much of that
safe dose and it causes death or harm. There is no safe dose of illicit drugs, and the
majority of people are being deceived and have no idea they are even ingesting illicit
fentanyl. Having a tolerance to illicit drugs still does not imply there is a safe dose to take.
Since the beginning of time society has called drug deaths overdoses and it will never sit
right with me, there is no safe dose of heroin, cocaine, mdma, meth, etc. When someone
dies from alcohol it is called alcohol poisoning. Marylanders are being deceived and
poisoned to death by illicit fentanyl in the drug supply and from fake pills being made by
the Mexican cartels and drug dealers here in America. You can’t tell the difference
between a real pill and a fake pill made to mimic a real pharmaceutical grade pill.
I turned my pain into purpose and started a grassroots movement called Lost Voices of
Fentanyl, but today’s letter is asking of you to support Drug Epidemic Virtual Memorial
Wall. This would show that our elected officials here in Maryland will recognize that our
loved ones were alive and breathing and Maryland will hold a place of remembrance for
our loved ones lost.
Sincerely,
April Babcock, founder Lost Voices of Fentanyl Inc.
Lvof.org

Crystal Daugherty’s Brother

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am writing to you as an ambassador for the Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall. My family’s
home state is MD, but my brother passed away in DE. His death is what leads me to
contacting you. By the way he loved Baltimore. He was proud to be from Baltimore. He
loved the Orioles and the Raven's.
My brother's name is Gary Edward Koch. He is forever 37. He was the youngest of 3
children. Our family has honestly had a very bumpy road. We lost our father to alcoholism
at the young age of 50, our parents had divorced when Gary was 4yrs old. We also lost
our mother to multiple myeloma at the young age of 59. That is a lot, Gary has struggled
with addiction going back to his teen years. He was in and out of jail as well. Now from
what I've said so far, many think "oh he was just another addict". As his sister for the entire
37 years of his life, I can tell you, that is very untrue. He had a genuine personality, a heart
bigger than most, a hilarious sense of humor, a great friend, father, son, brother, and
uncle.
Now, having an addict in the family causes a lot of stress. I will admit I was hard on my
brother a lot. I did tough love for many years. I have even taken him to court for stealing
from me during his addiction. I did this as a mother trying to protect my children. This
caused turmoil with our mother. She enabled my brother, but I cannot blame her, I would
do anything for my children as well. After our mother passed, I was Gary's “go to”. We
have a 6yr age difference, so I've always been a second mom to him anyway.
The loss of Gary has really hit me hard. He passed on 2/7/22. We were in contact
periodically, we had a group text, that consisted of him, our older sister and me. It wasn't
normal to not hear from Gary for more than a week. On 1/31/22, I went into work in a
panic. I had a sick sense something was wrong; I hadn't heard from him since 1/18/22. I
reached out to a few points of contacts he had and was just told he wasn't doing well the
last they heard. My sister and I continued our search by calling hospitals to see if he was
admitted. We had nothing. The night of 2/7/22, I received a call from Gary's ex-wife saying
she just heard from someone that he OD'D earlier in the day and they were unable to save
him. I can tell you; I was on my kitchen floor screaming "no" "please no Gary" and crying
inconsolably. My sister called the medical examiner, and our nightmare was confirmed.
Addiction lies, cheats, & steals. It makes the addict mimic that behavior and it then kills the
addict. I have walked around in a fog since 2/7/22, my chest feels like I've been punched
in it, I continue to feel guilt and have nightmares of me trying to save him and failing.
Those nightmares feel so very raw, brutal and vivid they stick with me all day long. I have
so much love for my brother that is stuck inside me. I cry often and out of the blue.

.
Please help find a spot for a wall to be displayed. Dealers need to be charged for homicide
in my opinion. How they sell these drugs and walk free is unreal to me. They stole my
brother; his son and daughter are now without him. He has missed so much and hasn't
been gone for 2 years yet.
Thank you for taking time to read this. I am very passionate about overdose awareness
and have a strong belief this epidemic needs serious attention for a change to happen.
Together these families and the state leaders can make a difference!
Sincerely,
Crystal Daugherty, Baltimore, MD

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Donna Bruce’s Son

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
My name is Donna Bruce, mother of Devon Wellington. Devon was a thriving meek, mild
mannered young man. Devon was respectful and kind to everyone he encountered,
Devon Wellington was very popular in school and even crowned prom king. Devon
became a Sous Chef and used cooking to show his love for his family and daughter. Yet
Devon suffered with mental health and substance misuse. My son denied access to
treatment because of lack of insurance. There were times Devon, and I would travel from
Maryland to Pennsylvania to seek treatment and rehabilitation due to lack of medical
insurance. Medical Insurance should not be a barrier for people to get help! On
7/24/2021, my son Devon LaVar Wellington ultimately succumbed to this fight when he
was found unresponsive in his truck. Our last conversation was I love you and I pray you
get some help.
Losing my son was unexpected and untimely. He leaves behind a little girl who misses him
every day. We cannot change what happened. We are simply asking for your support.
I am writing this letter to you for a minor yet tall ask. As a mother, I hope you can
understand the importance of remembrance.
We need your support for a wall as recognition and to remember who we lost. The Drug
Epidemic Memorial Wall in Maryland’s Capitol. How wonderful it would be to have a
permanent reminder to honor our children, family and loved ones. From our current efforts,
we have created Memorial Walls, one with names only and the other with photos. Today,
instead of snapping a picture of my son, laughing or talking to my son, I created a virtual
frame.
The virtual is updated regularly. We would like our loved ones to be memorialized. My son
did not have to die from a health condition which simply could have been medically
treated. People are losing their lives.
We are highly interested in meeting you. Together, we can find a home for the Memorial
Wall.
Sincerely,
Donna Bruce, Devon’s Mom
Baltimore, Maryland

Jackie Long’s Son

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am an ambassador for the Drug Epidemic Memorial Walls. I lost my beautiful son, Ryan
and his girlfriend Stephanie, who are forever 30 and 36 respectively.
They were poisoned by fentanyl, and we remain devastated. We loved them beyond
imagination. Ryan and Stephanie were the kindest and most empathetic people I have
ever known.
I know you have children. Would you assist us in finding a permanent location for a
Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall within our Capitol? We have created two memorial walls.
One with photos and one with names. I am including Ryan's frame, below. I am also
including the brochure of virtual memorial walls, albums, and our awareness campaign.
These digital walls and albums update automatically. We would also like the photos
displayed in hard copy format. The wall of names can be projected on a wall so families
can touch their loved one's name.
We would like our loved ones to be treated like victims. They were all victims of Purdue
Pharma (an American cartel) and many, many others. Now, they are victims of Chinese
and the Mexican Cartels.
We are using the word “drugism” for the prejudice toward drug users - like racism.
A group of our Maryland moms would love to meet with you and work together to prevent
this from happening ever again.
Sincerely
Jackie Long
Baltimore, MD

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Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am an advocate for the Drug Epidemic Memorial Walls. Being a family of people in long
term recovery, my family is devastated of the loss of our 79-year-old father, Pop – Pop and
Great Grand Poppy. We found him in his Senior Living apartment poisoned by fentanyl.
Julian Price was the most helpful, kind, compassionate person, who always was
supportive of others in his Aging Adult community.
We know many families have been impacted by loss from this epidemic. My family asks
for your assistance in finding a permanent location for a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall
within our Capitol that represents all families as a united healing country.
The digital wall of names automatically updates albums and will support generational
healing and legacy security. Many were victimized by Purdue Pharma (an American cartel)
and now have become the victims of Chinese and the Mexican Cartel.
Again, my ask is to assist us with displaying honor and Unity, by showing love thought the
Wall of names located in our capital.
Thank you,
Julvette Price- Brown
Baltimore City, MD

Katherine Glenn’s Son

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
My name is Katherine Glenn, and I am the mother of Justin Glenn. He was my last child, my
baby, known for his trademark blue eyes and his huge smile. He was born on November 6, 1987.
I was alone when I found him dead on his couch from accidental fentanyl poisoning on the
morning of October 5, 2016, just shy of his 29th birthday – a sight that will never leave me.
My son’s addiction began when a friend gave him a pill and he took it - one moment in time that
would destroy a family. He liked how it made him feel and he continued to obtain pills until they
no longer made him feel good. As a Type 1 diabetic, he unfortunately was not intimidated by
needles, and eventually he progressed to shooting heroin into his beautiful body. He spent over a
decade in the hell of addiction, with rehab stays too numerous to count, a bout with Hepatitis C,
treatment with methadone, and unrelenting shame that addiction had him by the throat and he
just couldn’t wrestle out of its grip. Even after attending many of his friends’ funerals and with the
knowledge of fentanyl being slipped into drugs, he could not stop using. In the fall of 2016, off he
went to another rehab, full of so much shame he would not let me tell his father and his big sister
that he was going. The photo I took of him as I left him there will forever haunt me; his eyes were
already dead. When he came home, he told me I was right when I told him that eventually rehab
would “stick” and that he now “got it”. Just days later he was dead, leaving me, his dad, his sister,
and his much-loved niece and nephew bereft.
I am writing today to ask you to help find a permanent location for a Drug Epidemic Memorial
Wall in Annapolis. We have created two Memorial Walls, one with photos and one with names. I
am including a photo of my Justin. These digital walls and albums update automatically. We
would also like the photos displayed in hard copy format. The wall of names can be projected on
a wall so families can touch their loved one's name. We would like our loved ones to be treated
like victims they were - victims of a society that ignored them by failing to treat addiction as an
illness and to stigmatize their disease. No one chooses to become an addict and they deserve to
be remembered as people of significance who are dying in unbelievably record numbers. We are
losing a whole generation to this insidious epidemic. The pain of knowing your child will never
marry, have children, and live to an old age is simply unbearable. As a mother yourself, you can
surely imagine the devastation this has caused our family.
A group of Maryland moms would like very much to meet with you and work together to find a
home for the Memorial Wall. Please make time for us.
Sincerely,
Katherine Glenn, mother of Justin Glenn, who is forever 28
Mt. Airy, MD

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Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am a Maryland ambassador for the Drug Epidemic Memorial Walls. The campaign was inspired
by the DEA Faces of Fentanyl Wall at the DEA Museum in Arlington, Virginia. Our goal is to have
a drug epidemic memorial wall put up in all 50 state capitol buildings to honor our loved ones. I
have been to the DEA museum in Arlington, Virginia to see my son’s handsome picture on their
wall. Seeing his picture among thousands of others was a moving and powerful experience. By
displaying their faces and names in our State Capitol, they will continue to live on in memorial,
rather than quietly becoming a statistic. We need your help to accomplish this.
I lost my handsome son Jonathan, who is forever 26. He was poisoned by fentanyl, and we
remain devastated. We loved him beyond imagination. Jonathan was a smart, kind and witty
young man who had a great future ahead of him.
I know you have children. Would you assist us in finding a permanent location for a Drug
Epidemic Memorial Wall within our capital? We have created two memorial Walls. One with
photos and one with names. I am including Jonathan’s frame. I am also including the brochure of
virtual memorial walls, albums, and our awareness campaign.
These digital walls and albums update automatically. We would also like the photos displayed in
hard copy format. The wall of names can be projected on a wall so parents can touch their loved
one's name. We would like our loved ones to be treated like victims. They were all victims of
Purdue Pharma (an American cartel) and many, many others. Now, they are victims of the
Chinese, and the Mexican Cartels.
Sincerely, Kimberly Frock

Mela Davis’ Daughter

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
I am an ambassador for the Drug Epidemic Memorial Walls. I lost my beautiful daughter, Lana
Gibson, on October 16, 2021 (she lived in Shadyside, Md.). She left behind 2 beautiful children,
Mia, 16 years old and Eli, 14 years old and her loving family. You just cannot imagine the pain
and grief we suffer every day. She will be forever “33”. She was poisoned by fentanyl,
intentionally, and we remain devastated. We loved her beyond imagination.
Lana was the kindest, most caring and loving person and especially to her two children. Her
teacher from elementary school who she stayed in contact with told me at her funeral, everyone
should “Love like Lana”. That’s the kind of woman she was. That is my daughter’s legacy is to
“love like her”.
I know you have children, and I am asking you to assist us in finding a permanent location for a
Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall within our Capitol? We have created two Memorial Walls. One
with photos and one with names. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Arlington, Va. has
created a wall in their museum with 1,000’s of pictures of all these beautiful young people
poisoned by fentanyl. I am including Lana’s frame below displayed at the DEA museum. These
digital walls and albums update automatically. We would also like the photos displayed in hard
copy format. The wall of names can be projected on a wall so parents can touch their loved
one’s name. We would like our loved ones to be treated like VICTIMS and they are! They were
all victims of Purdue Pharma (an American cartel) and many, many others. Now, they are victims
of the Chinese and the Mexican cartels. We are using the word “drugism” for the prejudice
toward drug users - like racism.
A group of our Maryland Moms would love to meet with you and work together to prevent this
from happening ever again! Please help our children.
Sincerely,
Mela Davis
Anne Arundel County, MD

Vicki Meyer Bishop’s Son

Dear First Lady Dawn Moore,
My name is Vicki Meyer Bishop, and I am the mother of Brian Wayne Meyer, born on August 19,
1972. My first born son who died of drug poisoning on Halloween 2017. Brian was 45 years old.
Brian was in his late 20s and working in construction when he fell through a roof and was badly
injured. Brian’s injuries and pain were treated with the best non-addictive prescription pain drug
available in careless amounts and by the time he was healed and the medication no longer
prescribed by his physician, Brian was profoundly addicted. What happened next is a familiar
tale of pill mills and drugs purchased on the street. Many times, Brian tried to break his
dependence. Sadly, this addicted lifestyle held his family hostage for years of rehabs, promises,
successes, relapses, and overdoses. It was unbelievably brutal for Brian and terrifying for his
family. Our stories end the same way and Brian’s addiction killed him on October 31, 2017. His
death caused by fentanyl poisoning.
I cannot bring my son Brian back, give him a drug-free life and a chance for happiness. I must
now feel a mother’s heartbreaking pain every night when I close my eyes to sleep. I see my
beautiful son and his addicted life that led him to a cold steel medical table in the Baltimore
County Medical Examiner’s Office, blue, alone and quite dead.
Mrs. Moore, I am writing this letter to you for a very big ask. We need your help to find a
permanent location for a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall in Maryland’s Capitol. We have created
two Memorial Walls, one with photos and one with names. I am including Brian’s frame. Please
look into his eyes and see him as a man of worth with a terminal disease.
These digital walls and albums update automatically. We would also like the photos displayed in
hard copy format. The wall of names can be projected on a wall so families can touch their loved
one's name. We would like our loved ones to be treated like the victims they were - victims of a
society that ignored them by failing to treat addiction as an illness and to stigmatize their disease.
No one chooses to become an addict and they deserve to be remembered as people of
significance who are dying in unbelievably high numbers. We are losing a whole generation to
this insidious epidemic.
A group of our Maryland moms would like very much to meet with you and work together to find
a home for the Memorial Wall. Please make time for us.
Sincerely,
Vicki Meyer Bishop, mother of Brian Meyer F45 Clarksburg, Maryland

Maryland Photo Scrolling Wall:
md.drugepidemicmemorial.org
National Teen Scrolling Wall Of Photos:
https://wall.drugepidemicmemorial.org/photos/teens
National Scrolling Wall Of Photos:
https://wall.drugepidemicmemorial.org/photos
National Scrolling Wall Of Names:
https://wall.drugepidemicmemorial.org/

Awareness
Campaigns
School And Community Prevention Tools
I AM A FORCE FOR CHANGE - SCHOOL/COMMUNITY
PREVENTION TOOLS
Manual For Advocates
I AM A FORCE CHNAGE- PREVENTION MANUAL FOR ADVOCATES
Please feel free to share for awareness, prevention and memorials.
To be included on the Memorial Walls go to:
wall.drugepidemicmemorial.org

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