Doctor Murdered in Indiana for Refusing to Provide Opiates

File: doctors.png (153KB, 574x480px) Image search: [Google]

153KB, 574x480px

http://archive.is/slVzW

The alleged murder and the suicide unfolded within just hours of each other Wednesday in Mishawaka in northern Indiana, a state that's been gripped by problems with opioid addiction over the past several years. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter told reporters that Michael Jarvis confronted physician Todd Graham for not prescribing an opioid for his wife's chronic pain, but he cautioned that investigators are still determining whether drug addiction played a role in the killing.

Cotter said during a news conference Thursday that Jarvis and his wife showed up at Graham's office for an appointment Wednesday morning. Jarvis became upset after Graham told them that he doesn't believe chronic pain requires opioid medication. The couple left, but Jarvis - armed with a gun - drove back to the doctor's office about two hours later, Cotter said.

Jarvis shot Graham, then drove to a friend's home, where he "gave indication that he was no longer going to be around," Cotter said. The friend, concerned for Jarvis's safety, called 911, but Jarvis killed himself before police arrived.

Cotter said Jarvis' wife did not know that he had driven back to the doctor's office and killed Graham. It also remains unclear whether both the husband and wife were addicted to opioid medications or whether Jarvis wanted the drugs for himself.

Jarvis, 48, was a part-time parking attendant and groundskeeper, a university spokesman said in statement, according to the newspaper.

Graham, 56, was also a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at South Bend Orthopaedics, where patients gave him a 4.3 out of 5 rating.