A Kenai grand jury last month charged a Homer woman in the death of her teenage son, Ivan Adams. Lisa Ann Petro, 41, was charged with criminally negligent homicide, a class B felony, for failing to get him medical treatment when police told her Adams might have had a drug overdose.

Adams, 14, died on Dec. 31, 2008, after a family friend reported he was unresponsive at his mother's home. Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technicians went to the home and confirmed Adams had died. Police said they believed Adams had been dead several hours.

Alaska State Troopers had gone to a Belnap Drive home on Diamond Ridge on Dec. 30 for a report that a 15-year-old boy was unconscious and breathing. Troopers said Adams and another 14-year-old boy were with the sick boy. The boys said their older friend had a peanut allergy. EMTs also went to the home and took the sick boy to South Peninsula Hospital.

When the 15-year-old boy woke up, he told troopers he and his friends had taken OyxContin and morphine. The younger boys went to the hospital, but fled when troopers discovered they might have taken drugs. The other 14-year-old later returned to the hospital for treatment, but Adams did not. Homer Police searched for Adams but could not find him. Homer Police Chief Mark Robl said Petro later called police and said her son was with her and fine.

The other two boys were later declared OK.

Petro was charged with criminally negligent homicide because she did not get medical treatment for her son, said Assistant Kenai District Attorney Jean Seaton.

Troopers allege the boys broke into a locked room at the Belnap Drive home and stole the powerful pain relievers from a grandfather of one of the boys. Trooper Mike Henry said troopers believe one or more of the boys ground up the OxyContin and snorted it. OxyContin is a time-release drug used in the treatment of chronic pain.

Henry called Adams' death "100 percent preventable."

If convicted, Petro faces a sentence of up to 12 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.