It is not OK to sleep on the floor of a high school hallway. Ever. So, when Dean Fennel from Holy Trinity High School called Teri Kroll early in the 2001 school year to say that her son, 16-year-old Timothy Kroll, was doing just that, she and Tim’s father Frank were more than a little concerned. The Copiague family had never faced such a situation before.
They demanded Tim be drug tested. Despite his protestations, claiming he was part of a group of kids known as “straight edge”—a culture that abstains from drugs, cigarettes and alcohol— he acquiesced and submitted to urine tests. They came up negative. Timothy went into counseling and was diagnosed with depression. He continued his counseling at the school. He had friends. He skateboarded. He surfed. All was good.
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Tim enrolled in Farmingdale State College, but did not embrace the typical partying lifestyle of a college student.
“He spent his time at home mostly,” says Teri Kroll.
He did not go to the bars often if at all. Tim was also starting to suffer from headaches. His depression worsened and he began to exhibit suicidal tendencies. Frank and Teri had trouble finding a psychiatrist.
“You call in April, and they say ‘Yeah, bring him in June,’” says Frank. “But he needed help.”
He was admitted for psychiatric assistance and spent one week in the hospital. It was not a good week for him. After tests revealed he was not suffering from migraines, an ear, nose and throat specialist said maybe there was something wrong with that part of his anatomy. Treatments were tried, but they did not work. Tim still fought the headaches.
It was in the Spring of 2005 that Teri and Frank brought Timothy to Dr. Saji Francis, an internal medicine doctor based in Massapequa, literally steps away from Massapequa High School.
“He told us he was going to help Tim,” says Teri.
Francis chatted with Tim. They talked about Tim’s future, what he wanted to do with his life. Dr. Francis told Tim he was an adult, and he could go outside of the U.S. and attend medical school one day. Tim was prescribed a pain medication, and Francis told him to come back one week after that visit. Tim did go back to Francis, as it turns out, and told him the pills were not working. So Francis prescribed oxycodone, a powerful pain killer and dangerously addictive opiate. Teri and Frank say this was the first time their son did any real drugs. And without their knowledge, Tim would continue to see Dr. Francis and refill the powerful prescription. Tim became addicted and fell into a life of psychological despair and torment.
On Dec. 8, 2009, Dr. Francis was arrested in his office, charged with illegally selling prescriptions for cash.
It was four months after Teri Kroll had called the Nassau County Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Squad and told them about Dr. Francis.
And three months after Timothy Kroll died in his bed at age 23, after four hellish years.
“No One Gets to Come In”
By the time he was arrested, Dr. Saji Francis’ name was known to detectives in Nassau’s narcotics squad, at least by nickname.
“His name didn’t come up a lot, but we had some people who were arrested mention a Dr. Frank,” says Detective Lt. Andy Fal, the commander of the unit.
Teri Kroll told her story to Fal and Detectives Jayne Collins and Debbie Gibson in June, 2009. The information about Dr. Francis was intriguing. It became even more enticing when another tipster contacted the unit and said a family member was coming out of rehab after treatment of an addiction to, among other things, oxycodone. The caller did not want the family member returning to Dr. Francis because of the doctor’s reputation for providing easy access to hard drugs.
“Kind of just like that, Dr. Francis was on our radar,” says Fal.
It had been four years since Teri and Frank had taken Timothy to Dr. Francis, hoping he would help rid the young man of his painful headaches. In that time, the Kroll family lived a nightmare.
“There was one year when literally, every day my phone rang with some other drama about Timmy,” says Frank Kroll, standing in the dining room of the Copiague house where he raised his children Timothy and daughter Jaime.
There is an incredible sense of charm and calm in the house. On the walls painted with soft, inviting earth tones are sayings, lines like “The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.”
The loss of their son is obviously devastating to the Krolls, and they trace Tim’s battle with addiction to his visits with Dr. Francis.
His parents started to become aware that something was terribly wrong with Tim. They rifled through his trunk and found a large bottle of oxycodone. After being confronted with the pills, the family visited a doctor who suggested that Tim be admitted into a hospital for detox. He instead asked his parents if he could spend five days with his father in Montauk, just the two of them.
“He did not have a good experience when he was hospitalized before,” says Teri. “He said he wanted to go with his father and surf it out.”
The two headed east in Frank’s VW bus.
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More articles filed under Featured,Long Island News,NewsTags: Atavan, cocaine, Copiague, Detective Debbie Gibson, Detective Jayne Collins, Detective Lt. Andy Fal, Dr. Francis, Dr. Frank, Dr. Saji Francis, Fentanyl, Frank Kroll, Heroin, Holy Trinity High School, Massapequa, Massapequa High School, Montauk Lighthouse, Nassau County Police Department's Narcotics/Vice Squad, Nassau University Medical Center, oxycodone, Percocet, Teri Kroll, Tim Kroll, Timothy Kroll, Tylenol, Xanax
I wrote an article about Dr. Saji Francis court hearing for Judicial Diversion — Please fee free to use some or all of article — if you would like to contact me please call 516-639-2386.
Judicial Diversion for Dr. Saji Francis?
In early February 2010, ADA Teresa Corrigan contacted Drug Free Massapequa (DFM) for help in showing community strength in fighting to oppose Dr. Francis, a local internist with an office in Massapequa, being granted judicial diversion for his drug related crimes. Together with a letter from Legislator Schmitt, volunteers worked feverishly to gather over 2000 letters and emails to send to ADA Corrigan demanding that judicial diversion be denied.
On Thursday, February 25, 2010, ADA Corrigan presented her arguments to Honorable Judge Jaeger in a Mineola court room to have judicial diversion denied. As an additional show of support, members of Drug Free Massapequa and the local community traveled to Mineola.
Upon entering the small courtroom an overwhelming feeling came as you looked at Judge Jaeger’s bench which displayed two flags, one Nassau County and the other the American flag, and just to the right a plaque that said “In God We Trust”, we needed that trust so justice would be served.
With the courtroom filled, Judge Jaeger announced the case of Dr. Saji Francis and turned the floor to ADA Teresa Corrigan who had overwhelming evidence against Dr. Francis’ claim of his own drug addiction. She argued the fact that police enforcement had tapes of 9 separate accounts of Dr. Francis selling prescriptions; he had $1200 in his pockets the day of arrest and sited his personal statement when arrested. ADA Corrigan continued her arguments stating that all his screens came back negative to any evidence or trace of drug use. She concluded with a plea to Judge Jaeger to find with the people and deny Judicial Diversion.
Dennis Lemke, Dr. Saji Francis’ third lawyer, was given the chance to repute. His opening statement was the fact granted at this time until he had the chance. He then went on to say how Dr. Francis voluntarily entered into a private clinic where he surrendered his license to practice and write scripts, so he would be of no harm to the Massapequa community. He urged Judge Jaeger to find with the defendant who had admittedly taken drugs and considered himself to be addicted to be given Judicial Diversion.
Judge Jaeger was then ready to announce his verdict. While quoting the findings of the review board he said several times that judicial diversion was available as an offer to Dr. Francis. However, he also repeated that the findings had many inconsistencies. There was concern throughout the court room as no one knew Judge Jaeger’s final determination. Then came the Judge’s decision – judicial diversion DENIED!
DFM members and the community came out of the court room with a renewed sense of purpose and in a congratulatory mood due to the verdict and the successful efforts of ADA Corrigan. She thanked everyone for their help and support in this effort. While a trial is still possible if an agreement cannot be made between the two attorneys, DFM and the community continue to closely monitor this case and stand ready to help in the battle against drug abuse and the prosecution of drug dealers.
A community that stands together can make a difference in the fight against drugs; Drug Free Massapequa (DFM) will continue to unite the community as we raise awareness and demand a DRUG FREE zone to raise our children. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man; but soon or late the man who wins the battle is the man who thinks he can. Drug Free Massapequa knows they can!
By: Janice Talento
CoFounder & CoPresident – Drug Free Massapequa
Heres a thought for you George, just because people sleep in school doesn’t have anything to do with being a drug addict. Tim was a great guy and although he is gone I know he is looking down reminding us it’s not about who’s a drug addict and whos not. it’s about doctors doing things that are illegal and the consequences that come of it. Tim was my cousin and he had a struggle but if your going to have any type of negative comment hold it in to yourself.
Teri,
I am the social worker at NUMC and I worked with Timmy when he was here. I just read the article and wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your loss.
There are too many of these stories being told. It is quite depressing. I pray for peace for this family.
What is the answer. I really don’t know. But I think it’s going to take everyone who cares to stand up to these thugs, and I mean everyone. Just because it’s not happening in your house means nothing. The truth of the matter is that the problem is bigger than what the local PD can handle.
He was not using drugs before the age of 18. He was tested regularly and randomly through the doctors. The school was diligent about getting help for a child with depression. Do not under-estimate the effects of depression – there is a fine line.
How about Dr.Reddy in Long Beach?
Here is a thought: Maybe he was already a drug addict when he was sleeping on the floor in high school. Just because the test came up negative does not mean he wasn’t on drugs. There are many ways around testing positive.
I wish the family well.