High school cheerleader who died after snorting heroin when stuck at home on snow day 'was given drug by her boyfriend'



A high school cheerleader who died from snorting heroin when stuck at home on a snow day was allegedly given the drug by her boyfriend - who is now on trial for her death.

'Animal lover' Shannon Gaddis, 17, died at her Troy, Illinois, home in January last year after overdosing on the Class A substance while Triad High School was closed.

Alleged drug dealer and her reported partner Taylor Kennedy, 20, is now standing trial for her drug-induced homicide and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Claims: Shannon Gaddis (left) died from a heroin overdose in January 2011. Taylor Kennedy (right) is standing trial for her drug-induced homicide

He is the first person in Madison County to go to trial charged with supplying drugs that caused another person's death.

Madison County prosecutors said they have six witnesses, some of whom are confessed drug users, lined up to testify that he delivered the heroin that killed her.

Witness statements at the inquest into Gaddis' death revealed she was with Kennedy and another friend, Melissa C Barnes, during the day of her death.

They reportedly bought heroin and, while driving around St Louis, Kennedy 'mildly' overdosed.

Death: Shannon Gaddis, 17, died at her Troy, Illinois, home in January last year after overdosing on the Class A substance while Triad High School was closed

Barnes and Gaddis split the remaining heroin capsules. Gaddis and Kennedy returned to her home later that night and she took more heroin as he was sleeping.

He woke and called 911 after he found her unconcious on her bed.

Barnes is a witness for the prosecution and defence, and has never been charged in connection with her friend's death.

Jury selection took place yesterday and the trial is expected to last until Friday.

Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons said Gaddis' death was symptomatic of a problem that afflicts the whole region and not just that county, stltoday.com reported.