The house at 39 Belleaire has been the subject of a law enforcement response an average of once a month for the past two years–no fewer than 24 responses since April 2018, responding to disturbances, servicing warrants, a Baker Act, probation checks and an overdose just months ago.
Last August, Christine Ann Touhey, 33, was arrested on charges of methamphetamine possession and violating her probation, after a previous probation violation arrest in May. Last June, Bryan Touhey, 39, found guilty on a felony drug possession charge just months earlier–after failing out of drug court–was arrested on a contempt charge. He’d also violated probation a few months earlier. In September 2018, Lisa Marie Touhey, 37 at the time, was arrested on nine charges, including three drug charges and false imprisonment, and Christine was arrested on drug, battery and grand theft charges. Lisa had a previous arrest for battery earlier that year.
Last November 29, Christine Touhey led sheriff’s deputies to her mother, Cecilia Touhey, 60, in one of the house’s bedrooms. Cecelia was not breathing and had no pulse. Christine told deputies advised me that her mother “was a known heroin user and that her mother just used heroin within that past several minutes” before the deputies’ arrival, according to a sheriff’s incident report.
A deputy immediately pulled out a dose of Narcan, the neutralizing agent that helps restore normal breathing in such situations, and administered it to Cecilia. After several rounds of CPR, she regained a pulse. A rescue unit arrived and took over medical care. Deputies looked for drugs but were unable to locate any, and Christine told them she had no further information to pass on.
Cecilia Touhey was taken to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where a deputy spoke with her. She was by then alert and conscious. “I briefly spoke with Cecelia in an effort to obtain further information, but she stated that she did not wish to answer any of my questions,” the deputy reported–other than that Cecilia had been using Fentanyl at the time of the overdose, the drug far more powerful than heroin.
On Friday, sheriff’s deputies responded to yet another overdose call at 39 Belleaire, this time, the victim did not survive.
Bryan Touhey had called 911 to report that Tara Sanfilippo, 28, had possibly overdosed on Xanax and Fentanyl. Christine Touhey had started CPR. Christine had forced the bedroom door where Sanfilippo was staying for the night, after not getting a response from her that night. A sheriff’s sergeant administered a dose of Narcan and took over CPR when he arrived, and another dose was administered before rescue paramedics took Sanfilippo to AdventHealth.
“Tara recently got back to Palm Coast after being incarcerated and has reportedly been drug free,” a sheriff’s incident report states.
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Lauren Borg says
RIP my sweet friend. I miss you 💔
Been going on for decades says
When is Palm Coast going to do something about this house and family? They should not be allowed to live together because they are all addicted and feed their addictions off one another. How many more calls, overdoses and deaths need to take place at this drug house before someone steps in and puts an end to it?? This has gone on a lot longer than the past 2 years. More like a decade or 2. They get arrested, get out, get probation and right back to the same bs. Its more than obvious continuous slaps on the wrist isnt working and whatever rehab programs they have been through dont work especially not when they are all allowed to live together. Time to start making it illegal for active users to live with one another family or not. How does anyone expect them to get clean and stay clean when they live with other users? Time to break up and shut down the drug house.
Mary Fusco says
Typical PC flophouse. I am sure there are a lot more and as this growth continues, expect even more. I don’t feel for these people. They know what they are doing and are living for themselves. I feel for those who are forced to live around them. It’s a sad state of affairs but we have bigger fish to fry right now (virus).
Carol says
My prayers to her family and friends, it’s so sad.
Ritchie says
Save the lives and raze that structure.
What the hell? says
People are out there willingly ingesting fentanyl?
Random says
So…. How’s that war on drugs going? Why has America lost every war they’ve declared for the last 50yr’s?
KbSays says
May this young woman R.I.P. It’s a shame what these illegal and synthetic drugs are doing to our society. Unfortunately, this is an epidemic that has consumed so many lives. Hopefully, the family can get the help they need before it’s too late.
C’mon man says
Live by the drugs die by the drugs.
Tellmeitsnottrue says
The safe haven laws are a blessing and a curse. For people who battle addiction their entire lives, it’s a curse. Harsh, I know.
Bill harvey says
Now we can utilize our law enforcement towards more things worthy of their services
Palmcoast1985 says
Bill harvey,
I don’t know this young lady who just died nor do I know her friends or family. I just have one question for you…would you feel the same way if this were your daughter/sister/family member?? Now imagine some jerk just made such a hurtful comment while they are grieving!
Sandy says
Thank you, I am part of the griev ing family. There is so much more to the story, including lack of services.
Random says
As someone who’s been around this family I can tell you that there’s no way on getting this family clean. They know the system too well to know how to work around it. They truly don’t care about the risks they are too far gone to bring them back. When they’re not on the drugs they’re decent people but that family and who they spend their time around will make sure they’ll never quit the drugs they use. It’s honestly sad because they had plenty of chances to make their lives better and fail to take those opportunities.
Willy Boy says
Same Ol’ Same ‘O in this neighborhood. Sheriff cars here weekly. Nice neighborhood except for one house. It’s like a quick-stop drive-thru. A little Narcan, a little rehab, and it’s back to the party.
Unknown says
The father we know to be a hard working man. He is kind and willing to do anything for anyone. People battle with these issues and demons all the time. We can say all the right things but unless we are going threw what they are going threw and why. We can never really stop the issue. Find the people selling them the drugs, and maybe this will end. RIP
Been going on for decades says
Why not also put a stop to known drug houses that allow addicts to all live with one another as well? Maybe had this dope house been shut down a deacde or so ago this young lady wouldnt be dead. Allowing them to all continue to live with one another is an obvious problem and one that doesnt help with any type of rehab yet its still allowed. The Touheys can all sit home living off their parents and use whatever money they can scavenge to buy and use and share with others. Again been going on for decades, there are way too many calls to law enforcement yet the courts fail every damn time and slap The Touheys on the wrist. So yes go after the dealers but also the dope houses and people in them because they are just as bad as the dealer themself. Pretty much no different when they may not deal or make money which they actually have done but they also share with other addicts. Its not just the dealers, its anyone that supplies and thats what they do. Again the Sheriff and Court needs to put an end to The Touhey Dope House!!!!
Me says
Pretty sad and pathetic that authorities didn’t do more after that many calls to that property, just trying to figure out how that system failed and it did.
Mary Fusco says
Amazing how so many always fall back on the old “it’s someone else’s fault”. This is the new American answer to everything. No one was holding these people down and shoving drugs into them. It was a conscious decision and it is usually generational. Just work enough or steal enough to get drugs and pay rent. Loads of people crammed into one house doing the same thing. Disgusting.
Sandy says
You obviously don’t understand addiction.
Joanie says
You are right. People say how things should be and a lot of things they know nothing about. You have to understand addiction by having been an addict or a close family member to understand The mind set.