Tragedy strikes as teen dies in colorado home

On a summer afternoon in August 2016, Mark Pedersen's world turned upside down. The sixty-year-old was at his Lakewood, Colorado home when he noticed a commotion. Red flashes pulsed through the rear sliding door, followed by firefighters bursting into the main entrance.

Deadly discovery

Pedersen immediately sensed something was wrong with Jack, the disabled teen he'd grown close to over the past two years. Despite sharing no family ties, Pedersen had become a legal medical marijuana caregiver for Jack, who suffered from severe chronic pain due to cerebral palsy and dystonia.

As Pedersen rushed across the kitchen, he was intercepted by Jack's nurse who delivered the devastating news: Jack was dead. Responders found the 15-year-old hadn't been alive for at least a couple of hours.

Pedersen, in a state of shock, was led down the hallway and into Jack's room where he was met with a surreal sight. Jack's body lay twisted across the bed, his bright blue eyes now a lifeless gray. Pedersen couldn't recall if Jack's life-support machines were still active, but the searing pain of losing his young friend was unforgettable.

Police investigation

Police and detectives arrived, quickly securing the scene and ordering Pedersen to wait outside for four hours without explanation or a coat. It wasn't until nearly nine p.m. that officers instructed Pedersen to check into a hotel, leaving him with more questions than answers.

When Pedersen returned two days later, his room was in disarray. Personal papers, photographs, and equipment used for his medical marijuana business were all scattered and missing. The devastating loss of Jack, combined with the upheaval of his own belongings, left Pedersen reeling.