Authorities say teen who died at Seaford party used heroin

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Authorities say teen who died at Seaford party used heroin

A Massapequa teenager used heroin before she mysteriously died at a house party last month, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday morning.

Natalie Ciappa's toxicology report, which is not yet final, will show whether she died of a drug overdose June 21 at a Seaford home, authorities said.

Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Wednesday that the 18-year-old had been using the drug, and that her ex-boyfriend was a member of a massive heroin distribution network in Nassau County. Rice's office is still investigating whether there is any direct link between Ciappa's death and her ex-boyfriend's dealing, she said.

"It's difficult to admit your child took heroin," said Ciappa's mother, Doreen Ciappa, at a news conference Wednesday morning. "It was difficult for us to admit it to ourselves. She was beautiful, she was smart. She did not look like a heroin addict.

"This was anybody's kid."

Ciappa's ex-boyfriend, Phillip Ordaya, was one of a dozen alleged heroin dealers arrested as the result of a major wiretap investigation by the Nassau police and prosecutors, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said at the news conference. The heroin distribution ring, which was operating out of the Hempstead Bus Terminal, was one of the main arteries bringing heroin into Nassau County, Rice said.

"Let parents and schools and communities be on alert that heroin use by our children is on the rise," Rice said. "We stand here today to put drug dealers on notice that we will not stand idly by and wait for more of our children to die."

Doreen Ciappa said her daughter had overdosed once before. She said they had tried to get her help, but once she turned 18 they couldn't force her to get help anymore.

"I sat at her wake, and what broke my heart was so many confident parents walked up to me with their children," Ciappa said. "Even though their children looked beautiful and healthy, that's what this new heroin does. It tricks the parents into thinking, 'Not my kid.' "

The arrests come at a time when law enforcement officials say they are seeing an increase in heroin use among Nassau's white middle-class teenagers. In 2002 there were about 100 heroin sale and possession arrests countywide. Last year there were about 150 -- a 50-percent increase -- said Det. Lt. Pete Donohue, deputy commanding officer of Nassau's Narcotics and Vice Squad.

Rice said that the investigation, which began in February, led detectives to a Roosevelt home which they believe is the main Nassau County distribution point being used by the ring. A search warrant executed at the Roosevelt house resulted in the seizure of 804 glassine envelopes of heroin, Rice said.

In May, Rice said she applied for an eavesdropping warrant on two cellular phones used two Queens men who she said are believed to be the ringleaders of the network. Nassau County Judge Frank A. Gulotta signed the warrant.

Rice said that after Ciappa's death, detectives found out that her ex-boyfriend was a previously unidentified subject involved in the wiretapped telephone conversations of the investigation into the Queens-Nassau ring. As a result of the connection, Ordaya was placed under surveillance and eventually arrested on a drug conspiracy charge July 7, Rice said.

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this is really sad, obviously but the comment in the beginning bothers me... she didn't "look" like a heroin addict? what exactly does this mean?

Posted 7/9/08 3:33 PM