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Heroin kills man in treatment
By LISA GREENE and SUSAN THURSTON Aaron Kononitz was to graduate today from Operation PAR's residential drug treatment program. His family thought the Tampa native had finally beaten his struggle with addiction. His drug screens kept coming back clean. He had a food service job. He had determination. "My brother said many times, he wouldn't wish addiction on anyone," said his sister, Alex Kononitz. But those wishes fell short. Aaron Kononitz, 28, was found dead in his bunk Saturday morning at the Operation PAR treatment center, at 13800 66th St. N in Largo. He apparently overdosed on heroin smuggled into the facility by another resident, said the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. "We just don't understand how something like that happens," his sister said. "We thought it was a safe place for him." The family had planned a party and a week's vacation on Anna Maria Island to celebrate Kononitz's fresh start after 16 months of treatment. "Aaron had a big family support system," said his mother, Cassandra Barrios Rogers, breaking into tears. "We're a close family." Alex Kononitz said she understands the treatment center isn't a prison. Even so, the residents should have been more closely supervised, she said. "We don't want them on lockdown, but there have to be some safeguards," she said. Rogers couldn't understand why Operation PAR employees weren't aware of the drug use. Still, she praised her son's counselor for trying to help him through his addiction. "I'm not a person to be angry," she said. "I'm just disillusioned." Officials at Operation PAR said Sunday that Kononitz's death is tragic, but they are not to blame. "The real culprit here is addiction," said Nancy Hamilton, chief operating officer. This is the first overdose death at a PAR facility in the organization's 32-year history, Hamilton said. In response, PAR drug-tested all residents and revoked passes to leave, she said. They also brought in extra counselors. Another resident at the treatment center, Alfredo DeJesus, 36, went to Tampa Friday for a court appearance, said sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha. At some point, investigators believe, DeJesus bought heroin and returned to PAR. Friday night, Pasha said, DeJesus and Kononitz went to a sports equipment storage room with a third resident and used the heroin. DeJesus was hospitalized with overdose symptoms and now is at a detox facility, Pasha said. Detectives still are investigating, and Pasha said it's too soon to say whether DeJesus will be charged with heroin possession or contributing to Kononitz's death. The long-term program is designed for people with severe addiction. Some come voluntarily. Others, including Kononitz, are ordered there by a judge after a drug arrest. But it's not a prison, and it's not meant to be, Hamilton said. Residents aren't locked in. Longtime residents come and go to jobs and other events. Bags are searched randomly upon their return. Staffers do a head count six times a day and check each room every two hours at night, Hamilton said. The supervision level is deliberate. Residents have to learn to rely on themselves not to use drugs, PAR officials said. Kononitz graduated from Leto High School, where he played football and ran track, his sister said. He took classes at Hillsborough Community College and someday hoped to be a writer, his mother said. He was generous, loved children, and had a great sense of humor, his sister said. "He was an awesome guy. He just got caught up," she said. "We all had high hopes for him to stay clean and make it." A memorial service is planned at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Community Church, 4811 George Road in Tampa. Kononitz is survived by his sister and mother; father, William Kononitz; maternal grandmother, Helen Barrios; and paternal grandparents, William and Helen Kononitz. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to DACCO, a drug treatment agency in Tampa.
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