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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Father charged in son’s death


Flanagan
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Thomas Clouse Staff writer

Spokane County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a father Monday and charged him with providing the drugs that caused the overdose death of his son in June at a Spokane Valley motel.

Detectives raided the home at 1833 W. Mallon Monday morning and arrested 49-year-old Kristopher D. Olson. He was booked on charges of controlled substance homicide and delivery of a controlled substance, sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

The detectives are also seeking Beverly Lynn Flanagan, 44, who investigators believe purchased the drugs that killed 22-year-old Kenneth Olson.

On the morning of June 29, paramedics were called to the Red Top Motel, 7217 E. Trent, where they found Kenneth Olson not breathing from an apparent overdose. They were unable to resuscitate him. Kristopher Olson, the dead man’s father, was in the room at the time, Reagan said.

Investigators found a bindle of methamphetamine under Kenneth Olson’s body. But it took months to get toxicology results back from the state lab, Reagan said.

“We needed to know what he overdosed on before we could establish how he died,” Reagan said. “The predominant drug in his system was methadone.”

Detectives later found that the two Olsons had been at a methadone clinic on June 28 and left afterward with Beverly Flanagan.

She drove the two men to Kristopher Olson’s bank, where she withdrew a substantial amount of cash, Reagan said.

Flanagan then drove to the home of Denise F. Tipke, 51, at 15005 E. Broadway, and purchased 40 methadone tablets from Tipke for $600. Flanagan then delivered the pills to the Olsons, who were waiting in a fast-food restaurant on North Sullivan, Reagan said.

Kristopher Olson later admitted giving some of the methadone to his son, who died overnight in the motel room.

According to state law, anyone who purchases or provides drugs to someone who then dies from an overdose can be charged with controlled substance homicide, Reagan said.

On July 13, Detective Mike Ricketts executed a search warrant at Tipke’s home on East Broadway and seized more than $5,000 in cash, scales, heroin and more than 156 methadone tablets, Reagan said.

Tipke has since been charged by summons with delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Flanagan, who remains on the loose, has been charged with controlled substance homicide, delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, Reagan said.

Flanagan is white and stands 5-foot-3, 150-pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She also uses the alias Beverly Sundberg. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.