Dive Team Called; Witnesses Said Man Fell Into Quinebaug River In Putnam

The young man who passed away in the river is Sam Miller. His mother Ginny says, "Yesterday afternoon Sam texted his sister and dad then walked into the river during a food festival. He chose to end his life because addiction, mental illness and seizures were too difficult to manage. Some have said that he was dared to go into the water. We do not know if this is true. If people who talked directly to him want to speak to his family will do so, this would be fine. We know only the facts that he made contact then shut off the phone and walked into the river and was swept over the fall. Conflicting reports of "witnesses" are not helpful to grieving families. Complaints that the towns river fire was canceled to "retrieve the body that the family would not want to do anyway" is very callous. We did not make these choices nor were we asked about them at all. We thank the rescue and search teams so very much for the hours and hours they worked so hard for our son!! We greatly appreciate all that went into helping us and him. We regret that the people missed the River Fire, He was not just "fooling around" on a dare. He had severe depression and mental illness that he had fought for years. His pain was more than he let anyone know. That morning he had a seizure and still told others "I am ok" That was our Sam. He could simply not fight anymore. We miss him so very much."

In Sam's memory a teen tragedy prevention effort which was started by Sam years ago has been re-birthed.

Also a story about Sam can be found at Connecticut EpilepsyAdvocate
Remembering Sam Miller - A Stormy Journey of Epilepsy By Ginny Miller - March 16, 2010 is on our Personal Stories page http://www.ct-ea.org/personalstories.html

One last thing to mention is that Sam loved art. Sam had gotten several tattoos, a tattoo parlor is holding a fundraiser for Sam. "TATTOO's FOR Samuel Miller". Thursday May 5th Body Marx (Tattoo Shop) 94A Main St (860.774.TAT2) in Danielson, CT. All proceeds from the tattoo's will go to Samuel Miller's family to help with the funeral costs and what not. Please spread the word and help this Thursday be a success. If you don't want a tattoo and drop just off a couple dollars in his name would help.

I met Sam in a program I was in he always had an up beat attitude when he was around us and even talking to others after his departure from the class. I will miss him dearly even though we didn't talk much after class I still hoped he would continue his recovery. His memory will live on in those he touched with his strength wisdom and compassion. To Sam's family I am truely sorry for your loss and the word is being spread about his benefit event I even hope to see many people there to show his spirit that people still care about him even if he is gone.

R.I.P. Samuel miller you will be missed

Even though it has happened I still stand by the fact that I want to help in any way I can I apologize for my quickness to state i would be there I just wish to help and only realized after the post the fact it has already happened the art that is going on my body is still in memory of sam