A teen found dead in a garage after a booze-filled Long Island party died from a heroin overdose, according to police who arrested her ex-boyfriend and 11 other people suspected of being part of a massive Nassau County heroin ring.
Natalie Ciappa’s toxicology report showed the 18-year-old college-bound student died of a drug overdose at a June 21 house in Seaford, police said.
Nassau County cops are still investigating whether there was a direct link between Ciappa’s death and Phillip Ordaya, her ex-boyfriend who was one of a dozen dealers arrested after a major wiretap investigation by Nassau police and prosecutors.
Officials said the distribution ring was operating out of the Hempstead Bus Terminal.
At a news conference, Ciappa’s heartbroken mother appealed to parents and schools to be aware of drugs in their home and communities. Doreen Ciappa said her daughter had overdosed once before, and that her family had tried to get her help.
“It’s difficult to admit your child took heroin,” Doreen Ciappa said. “It was difficult for us to admit it to ourselves. She was beautiful. She was smart. She did not look like a heroin addict.”
“Unfortunately when a girl goes out with a guy and he gets her hooked on heroin, her memories with him are of being happy and euphoric. So she looks back on that like nobody ever made her that happy,” the teary-eyed mother said. “So I think Natalie, until the day she died, was hoping to get back with him.”
Natalie, who was scheduled to attend SUNY Old Westbury in the fall, was found unconscious in the garage of friend’s home after a party there.
The friend, See Woo Sung, 19, was arrested and charged with felony evidence tampering when he tried to hide booze bottles instead of helping Natalie’s father, who was frantically performing CPR on the teen.