USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear First Lady Lee,
My name is Debra Lynn. I recently lost my daughter, Mary Shandon, on April 5, 2023. She was
murdered by fentanyl poisoning. That morning she entered a residence she considered safe. She
walked in with dreams of a better life without addiction. She never made it out alive.
Although Shandon passed away in Indiana, Tennessee was her home. She was beautiful, smart,
and athletic with a kind heart. Her smile with her big blue eyes could light up a room. She also had
a daughter. Her goal was to break the merry-go-round of addiction. She did not want to die. She
wanted to regain her life as a mother, aunt, sister, and daughter. She wanted her family back.
Shandon’s belief and desire to break the bonds of addictions were stolen from her that day by
fentanyl.
On the evening of that fateful day, I received a message asking if I had heard from Shandon, as the
sender had been told that Shandon had passed. I was in disbelief and shock. I called the police
department and was informed that someone that was at the crime scene would get back to me. At
that moment I felt my worst fears and, as a mother, knew that my child was no longer here on Earth.
The office called and confirmed that my daughter had passed away. I was still in disbelief, but as the
realization set in, I could feel all the strength in my body draining away. I can still remember the
officer’s words confirming my daughter’s passing playing over and over in my head like a broken
record.
Shandon fought with addiction for years, but this time was different. She told me that “her soul was
tired, and she did not want this life anymore”. She was passing all her drug screenings. Ironically,
she had a drug screen coming up the next day. Shandon was given a lethal dose of fentanyl. It is
unknown if she took it willingly. The fentanyl dose was so lethal that it killed her within seconds. My
daughter was no longer in this world.
She laid deceased in this residence for hours, according to the coroner’s report, and nobody there
tried to help her. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding her death. As parents, we
want to know the truth and all the facts about the circumstances that brought this tragedy to our
family. The pain is so unbearable. I have never felt such despair in my life.
We request Tennessee to recognize the life of our loved ones. Our loved ones are more than the
disease of addiction they struggle with every day. They are beautiful and loving souls.
We do not wish other families to ever experience this unbearable grief. Drug addiction is an
epidemic and does not discriminate based on your economic, racial, or geographical boundaries, and
anyone of us or our loved ones can become their next victim.
We ask for your help with the Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall to both honor our loved ones and to
bring awareness to these senseless tragedies that have engulfed countless lives and families.
Please don’t say “not my child”, as anyone could be its next victim.
Thank You.
Debra Lynn – Mary’s mom; forever 39
Allen, TX 875