The mother and grandmother of 16-year-old Andrew Frye pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving him the heroin that killed him in a Green hotel room in April.
The mother, Heather Frye, 32, and grandmother, Brenda Frye, 52, will be sentenced on Oct. 12.
The mother faces up to 11 years in prison, while the grandmother faces up to eight years, as well as punishment for violating probation in other cases.
Heather Frye pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and evidence tampering. Brenda Frye pleaded to involuntary manslaughter and heroin trafficking.
Heather Frye has spent time in prison before.
Andrew’s April 6 death garnered national attention due to his family members’ involvement. According to police reports, Brenda Frye delivered the drugs that her daughter and a friend used with Andrew.
After waking to find Andrew unresponsive, Heather Frye — who did not have custody but told police she wanted to be the “fun weekend mom” — called 911 and hysterically told the dispatcher her son was dead.
Heather Frye’s friend, Jessica Irons, also pleaded guilty on Wednesday. She was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of involuntary manslaughter, evidence tampering and two counts related to other cases.
Irons, 35, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, wept silently while Summit County Judge Lynne Callahan walked her through the process of changing her plea. When given a chance to speak, Irons declined.
Irons’ attorney, Donald Hicks, said it would be Irons’ first stint in prison.
“I hope this can redirect her,” he told the judge.
Callahan agreed, calling the case a “tragedy.”
“You might have a chance to start over,” Callahan said. “Good luck, Ms. Irons.”
The fourth person involved in the case, Donald Callaghan, 59, is expected to stand trial Sept. 12 for a count of heroin possession. He was identified in April as Brenda Frye’s boyfriend.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ngfalcon.