Summit Co. hotel death mugs.jpg

Heather Frye, Benda Frye and Jessica Irons

(Summit County Sheriff)

AKRON, Ohio -- A fourth person has been charged after an Akron teen was found dead in a Summit County hotel room Wednesday.

First responders found 16-year-old Andrew Frye lying face down in a chair at a Super 8 hotel in Green in what Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry on Friday called a "senseless tragedy."

Donald Callaghan of Akron was arrested after investigators served a search warrant Friday morning at a home that Callaghan shared with Andrew's grandmother, Brenda Frye, Barry said.

Callaghan is charged with possession of heroin, according to the sheriff.

Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Kohler found evidence of intravenous drug use and heroin in Andrew's blood, and preliminary tests showed possible signs of fentanyl. More tests will be done to confirm the fentanyl, Kohler said.

Andrew's mother, Heather Frye, and Brenda Frye, both are charged with involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence and other charges. They will be arraigned Friday afternoon in Barberton Municipal Court.

They face three to 11 years in prison if convicted.

"This is a horrible tragedy because of his age," said Margaret Scott, deputy chief assistant prosecutor. "If you give someone else your poison, then we are going to hold you criminally responsible."

Heather Frye's friend, Jessica Irons, is charged with tampering with evidence and possession of drugs.

U.S. Marshals arrested Heather Frye and Irons Friday morning in Stow.

Heather and Andrew Frye, and Irons went to Super 8 around 2 a.m. Wednesday because Andrew wanted to swim in the hotel's pool, the sheriff said.

Heather Frye dialed 911 at 6:45 p.m. after she awoke to find Andrew unresponsive. Deputies responded within minutes.

"The evidence in this case turns my stomach," Barry said. "When they arrived it was quite apparent that Andrew had been deceased for quite some time. There was nothing they could do."

Barry said family members, including Brenda Frye, had been in and out of the hotel room before deputies arrived.

Investigators found syringes, drug paraphernalia, and potential illicit drugs inside the room, according to the medical examiner's report.

Investigators said the three women tried to hide needles and drugs before deputies arrived.

Heather Frye never had custody of Andrew, and she wanted to be "the fun weekend mom," a detective said.

"We have evidence of drug abuse by more than one person, more than one relative, of the deceased," Barry said. "It appears his mother, her friend, and his grandmother, and a friend of the grandmother all had a hand in obtaining and disseminating heroin among themselves."

Brenda Frye's sister, Tammy Smith, was Andrew's legal guardian, a person close to the family told cleveland.com.

Like Chanda Neely on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter: