New Canaan Father Makes Plea in Son's Fatal Heroin Overdose

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan father Mark Lynch, 57, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter after he was accused of giving his son a dose of heroin that turned out to be fatal.

Lynch is again due in court Jan. 19, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Police responded to a Parade Hill Road address Sept. 25 on a report of an unresponsive male later identified as Chris Lynch, 25. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The elder Lynch told police he gave his son heroin the night prior, said Lt. Jason Ferraro, police spokesman.

Chris went to sleep around 8 p.m. Sept. 24 and during the night Mark Lynch said he heard gurgling noises coming from Chris' bedroom, Ferraro said. He found him unresponsive the next morning.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Chris' death was caused by acute heroin intoxication. Mark Lynch had turned over heroin folds to police during the investigation.

A warrant was signed Nov. 21 and Mark Lynch turned himself in the same day.

He is charged with second-degree manslaughter, possession of narcotics and illegal distribution of a hallucinogenic substance.