New Details Emerge in Drug-Related Death
Woman Charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – New details have emerged in the death of a 17-year-old high school student as an 18-year-old Grapeland woman has been arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide.
On July 14, it was reported Grapeland High School student David Dunn had perished from an apparent drug overdose at a residence located off of FM 1272, in Grapeland. A second unresponsive male – identified as 19-year-old Jaelyn Reed – was airlifted to a Tyler hospital, where he remains.
The leasee of the residence, 19-year-old Dylan Shaw Duhon was taken into custody on that same day and charged with: possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 (Hydrocodone), a second degree felony; and possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 3 (Xanax), a third degree felony.
However, as the investigation into the incident continued, it was discovered a fourth person was involved in the tragedy and on Tuesday, July 21, Ashley Langham was taken into custody and charged with a state jail felony in connection to Dunn’s death.
Langham was involved in a relationship with Duhon and shared a residence, located at 251 PR 6263, with him. She was not at home when the drugs were found by law enforcement officers.
In an affidavit of probable cause, it was stated Duhon and Langham had taken Dunn and Reed to Houston on the night of July 13 with intent to purchase an unknown quantity of drugs.
“David and Jaelyn were in the backseat of the truck and it is believed they were passed out in the backseat when they arrived (back) in Grapeland at the residence,” the arrest report indicated. “It is believed David Dunn and Jaelyn Reed were left in the back seat that night.”
At the time of his arrest, Duhon stated Dunn and Reed had spent the night at his residence and when he left for work the next day, they were both asleep on the couch. Duhon also admitted they had all been taking Xanax the previous night.
It was later learned when Duhon got ready to leave for work the next morning, Dunn and Reed were still passed out in Duhon’s truck.
“Dylan got Ashley Langham to take him to work the next morning (in a different vehicle), leaving the two subjects in the truck, all day in the heat. Ashley Langham also stated she checked on the two subjects that morning and they were still asleep,” the affidavit reported.
When Duhon returned home from work “… he located his friends – unresponsive – in the truck’s back seat. Dylan stated he did not know how they ended up in the back seat of the truck.”
The affidavit went on to say, “It is believed Ashley was also responsible for leaving the subjects in the truck in the heat of the day. It is believed that leaving the subjects in the truck closed up in the heat, led to the death of David Dunn.”
Langham was taken into custody and booked into the Houston County Jail on the charge of criminally negligent homicide, a state jail felony.
According to Section 12.35 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days. In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”
Langham’s bond was set at $8,000. It was posted on Tuesday, July 21 and she was released pending further legal proceedings.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].