Greenwich Police Investigate Teen’s Death

Friends, family mourning loss of Riverside teen
A music lover with a big heart and lots of friends is how the parents of a Riverside teenager will always remember their son, who died unexpectedly over the weekend at age 18.

But for the moment, the family of Christopher Harris is just trying to come to terms with its devastating loss.

"It has been very difficult," said Christopher Harris Sr., the teen's father. "It was sudden and not expected. In our hearts, there is just a huge hole, and it will be a long time, if ever, to fill that hole."

Harris died Saturday after he was found unresponsive at his home on Florence Road around 9 a.m., prompting a response from paramedics and police. Harris was transported to Stamford Hospital shortly after medics rendered advanced life support, officials said. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Greenwich police said they are investigating the "untimely" death of the Riverside teenager.

An autopsy was performed Monday by the Office of the Chief State's Medical Examiner. Police said the cause of death is pending while they await the completion of toxicology tests.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that although Mr. Harris had some underlying medical issues it is likely that intoxicants were a contributing factor in his death," police said in a news release issued Monday afternoon.

Christopher Harris Sr. said it appeared to be a normal night at their home Friday, but he found his son in his bed and not breathing on Saturday morning. The father performed CPR until police and medics could take over.

"We don't really know what happened," Harris said. "He had been diagnosed with (mononucleosis) two days prior. At this point we don't know. He went to bed Friday night and everything seemed fine."

Mononucleosis is a viral infection causing fever, sore throat and swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck.

Harris' mother, Karen Harris, said while the past few days have been extremely difficult, the outpouring of support from family and friends -- especially on Facebook -- has held them up.

"I couldn't look at it at first," said Karen Harris of her son's Facebook page. "But I couldn't sleep, so I just finally got up 4 a.m. (Sunday), sat down in his room on his computer and saw 200, if not more, posts. It was overwhelming."

Harris graduated from Greenwich High School in 2010 and was a freshman at the University of New Haven, where he was studying music engineering in hopes of becoming a music producer. He had a studio at home and often made music, using influences from various genres.

"He loved writing music," his father said. "That was his passion."

Harris' mother said one of his biggest musical influences was the Dave Matthews Band, a group Christopher saw live nearly 80 times. He also played football and rugby.

Harris is the grandson of Griffith E. Harris, a three-term first selectman for the town from 1952 to 1958 who was heavily involved in the community throughout his life. The town's only public golf course is named in his honor. He died in 1998.

Christopher Harris was also a loving older brother to his sister Emily Harris, who is a sophomore at Greenwich High School, his parents said.

"You are my best friend," wrote Emily Harris on her brother's Facebook page. "I'll be strong for you and I know you will always watch over me. Everyone is going to love you up there. Don't stop laughing and loving."

In addition to being a devoted son and brother, Karen and Christopher Harris Sr. said they were also always amazed with how many different types of friends their son had.

"He had a very diverse group of friends in different circles," his father said, remembering how his son often hung out with athletes, musicians and everyone in between. "Chris was the centerpiece that glued those guys together."

Charlie Collins, 19, was one of Harris' close friends, who said he was shocked to hear about his friend's death.

"No one had a bad thing to say about him," said Collins, who is delaying his trip back to college in order to attend the funeral. "He was good at making light of any situation."

Collins described Harris as athletic and outgoing.

On Facebook, hundreds of friends described what Harris meant to them.

"Greenwich just lost the most kind hearted, sincere person it had," read one posting by Jessica Stahl.

"I have so many great memories and miss u so much," read another post by Andrew Coffey. "(You) were the best friend anyone could ask for and u loved and cared about everyone."

Calling hours for the family will be from noon and 3 p.m. and 5 and 9 p.m. Friday at Leo P. Gallagher & Sons on Arch Street. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich.

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NBC Connecticut- Greenwich police are investigating the untimely death of a teen.

Police responded to 4 Florence Road at 9:22 a.m. on Saturday after receiving a report about an unresponsive 18-year-old man and found Christopher Harris unconscious and unresponsive, police said.

Emergency crews started rendering aid and Harris was transported to Stamford Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has performed an autopsy and the cause of death is pending the completion of toxicology analysis.

Police said the preliminary investigation reveals that Harris had some underlying medical issues, but it is likely that intoxicants were a contributing factor in his death.

The Greenwich Police Detective Division is investigating a criminal investigation.

Riverside Man Gets Four Years in Drunken-Driving Death

This case hits home with me, as it happened in my hometown.. Just like Martha Moxley, Matthew Margolies, and the two librarians killed by a drunk driver.

GREENWICH-A Riverside man was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday for an October 2008 drunken-driving accident that killed 20-year-old Joseph Borselio of Greenwich.

At state Superior Court, Judge Richard Comerford listened to impassioned pleas from Borselio's family to sentence Douglas Moore, 25, to the maximum jail time he could receive.

"It's outrageous to me," said Kayla Borselio, Joseph Borselio's older sister of the accident. "I wonder how someone can engage in such irresponsible drinking and take away someone that was completely happy with their life," she said while sobbing.

Borselio's father Louis Borselio spoke solemnly about fond memories of his son, such as how well he could play the drums and how kind he was to other children in school.

"There are a lot of things he could have been in his life," said Louis Borselio.

Borselio's grandfather and uncle also spoke and the attorney for the family read a letter from Borselio's mother, who had to leave the room briefly at one point after being overcome with emotion. "This was no accident," wrote Borselio's mother Jessica Lewis in the letter. "Joey was doing nothing wrong."

Moore's attorney, Philip Russell, asked the judge to consider imposing the minimum sentence. He pointed to a letter written by Moore that expressed his feelings of regret over the accident.

"What hasn't been said is that Douglas Moore is terribly sorry and he has done nothing but express his remorse," said Russell, who told the court Moore had completely quit drinking since the accident.

Moore could have received between two and six years in prison for the Oct. 5, 2008, accident on Sheephill Road in which he struck Borselio, who was riding a bicycle. Borselio was pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutors said Moore tried to leave the scene.

Comerford called the sentencing decision agonizing, but said that "justice has to be tempered by mercy."

"We are dealing with two good people here," Comerford said. "One is lost forever and another will be crossing into the rings of hell for a period of time, if he ever escapes those walls. I wouldn't want that on my conscience."

Moore did not speak during the proceedings, but looked back once before being taken away in handcuffs with tears streaming down his face.

Stamford defense attorney Mark Sherman said Moore's sentence was standard for this type of case.

"The sentence doesn't surprise me," Sherman said. "The criminal system has made it very clear that it has zero tolerance for someone who is drunk, gets behind the wheel and kills somebody."

Upon his release, Moore will be subject to three years of probation, community service and will partake in a victims' impact panel. The Borselio family also is pursuing a civil suit against Moore and Dave & Buster's in West Nyack, N.Y., where Moore was drinking the night of the accident.

"We have an active civil suit," said Bridgeport attorney Michael Stratton who said that Moore was drinking beers and shots for five hours before driving home.

Borselio's family said after the hearing they were disappointed with the lighter sentence and the way the justice system handles drunken driving in the state.

"I never knew that the sentences were so short," said Louis Borselio. "The system has to change. A lot has to change."

Borselio's grandmother said no matter the sentence, nothing will ever fill the void her grandson's death has created.

"I don't know what to say," said Borselio's grandmother Brigida Borselio. "I have to believe in the system. We miss him everyday."
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Brigida worked at my elementary school and was a very nice lady, friends with my grandmother and very caring/loving towards me. My thoughts are with their family.

Greenwich Mom Charged With Leaving Tot in Car

Here in my own town! What the HELL is wrong with people!

GREENWICH -- A Riverside woman was arrested Monday and charged with leaving her 4-week-old baby in a hot car while running an errand at a bank on Greenwich Avenue, police said.

Gina Barrit, of Old Kings Highway, was charged with leaving a child unattended in a vehicle after police, firefighters and GEMS personnel arrived at about 3 p.m. to find the baby crying inside the locked car. The baby was unharmed.

Lt. Mark Kordick said the front windows of the Lexus were closed and the back windows were only cracked an inch.

"You could tell it was warm inside," said Kordick. "I would say it was at least 90 degrees."

Kordick said a person walking by notified a police officer on foot patrol about the infant. The fire department was called to unlock the car. Police said 15 minutes passed from when they were notified of the incident to Barrit's return to the car. It was not clear how long the infant had been sitting in the car prior to police being notified.

Kordick said officials were close to breaking the windows to rescue the child. "You consider breaking a window out of the vehicle if there is obvious distress," he said. "The problem is we can't control where the glass goes."

However, Barrit returned before police had to break the glass.

"She indicated she left the child in the vehicle intending to visit the bank and it took longer than she anticipated," said Kordick, noting that the woman had described herself as a "new mom."

The incident prompted a crowd of onlookers to gather as an ambulance arrived to check the baby's vital signs. As police investigated, Kordick could be heard telling the officers, "We're going to lock her up."

Police opted to allow the woman to walk her baby down the block to the station where she was later booked with the misdemeanor charge.

Barrit had not been released as of 6 p.m. Monday evening because police had not finished processing her, they said.

Death Sentence In Arson Murders of 5 Firefighters

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A Southern California man has been sentenced to death for setting a 2006 wildfire that killed five federal firefighters.

Raymond Lee Oyler was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder in March for setting the Oct. 26, 2006, blaze in Riverside County, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

Riverside County Judge W. Charles Morgan imposed the penalty Friday after relatives of the victims made emotional statements to the court.

The victims were San Bernardino National Forest firefighters who were overrun by flames while defending a rural home.