Kurt Danysh
This is how my son, Kurt, described the moment he realized that he had shot and killed his father.
By: Josephine Milea
Kurt's story began 17 days earlier when he was prescribed the drug Prozac by a general practitioner (who failed to perform any psychological testing). Shortly after beginning to take his Prozac prescription, Kurt, a normally outgoing teenager, became withdrawn and moody. By the second week, he was restless and violent. He got into a fight with his best friend and purposely crashed his truck into a stone wall. This was, to say the least, out of character for Kurt.
Tragically, only seventeen days after his first dose of Prozac, Kurt shot and killed his father, the one person he loved most in this world. The shooting was a complete shock and made no sense to anyone who knew Kurt and his father.
It was clear that the Prozac had caused a drastic, violent change in Kurt. In spite of this fact, Eli Lilly & Co., the maker of Prozac, claimed that their drug would not cause aggressive behavior. As a result of this claim and regardless of the fact that Kurt had no history of violence prior to Prozac, he was convicted of murdering his father and sentenced to 22.5 to 60 years in prison.
Finally, in 2004, eight years after Kurt's conviction, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized that so-called SSRI antidepressants, including Prozac can cause suicidal and/or violent behavior particularly in adolescents and children. Additionally, it's been revealed that Eli Lilly & Co. concealed data from 1988 which linked Prozac to violence. Armed with this new evidence we hope to gain Kurt a new trial. Our goal is to obtain justice for both Kurt and his father.
The Truth About SSRIs
SSRI antidepressants (Prozac, paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa and Lexapro) were originally advertised as miracle drugs with few side effects. This has been proven to be untrue. On March 22, 2004 the FDA warned that SSRIs may cause anxiety, aggitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsiveness, akathisia (extreme restlessness), hypomania and mania.
In 2004 the FDA issued a so-called Black Box Warning for all SSRIs. This kind of warning is one step below a ban. It's reserved for drugs which can result in death. The warning indicates that the drugs increase suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior.
The FDA's Advisory Event Reporting System reports 70 cases of murder linked to Prozac.
On January 1, 2005 the British Medical Journal quoted the original FDA reviewer of Prozac as stating, "I do agree now that those stimulatory side effects, especially in regard to suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation are worse than I thought at the time that I reviewed the drug."
SSRIs are similar to cocaine in their effects on the brain chemical serotonin. SSRIs are known to trigger manic episodes in bi-polar patients.
Kurt Is Not Alone
Saddly, Kurt's experience is not rare. Many incidents of violence and/or suicide have been linked to adolescents taking prescription antidepressants.
Eric Harris, the triggerman in the Columbine school shootings, killed his fellow students and took his own life while taking Luvox.
Fifteen year-old Kip Kinkel killed his parents and two classmates while taking Prozac.
Thirteen year-old Chris Fetters killed his favorite aunt while taking Prozac.
Twelve year-old Christopher Pittman murdered both his grandparents while taking Zoloft.
Thirteen year-old Mathew Miller hung himself in his bedroom closet after taking Zoloft for 6 days.
Fifteen year-old Jarred Viktor stabbed his grandmother 61 times after 5 days on Paxil.
This is just a few examples of antidepressant violence. The list goes on and on.
Additional information on SSRI antidepressants and violence may be found at
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Kurt is currently searching for legal help. He has no funds of his own to pay for help and therefore hopes to find an attorney who believes in him and will help him.
If you are an attorney who feels there may have been an injustice committed against Kurt and would like to help him, even on a limited basis, please contact Kurt here:
Mr. Kurt Danysh DL-4879
1111 Altamont Blvd.
Frackville, Pa. 17931
If you'd like more information than is currently available on this website, please contact:
Kurt is also in need of funds to futher his efforts in retaining legal representation in Hopes of a new trial.
With the new research information available today and the black box warnings on SSRI medications and their dangers,
his hopes for a new trial are based on new evidence that was not available during his trial 10 years ago.
The Kurt Danysh Legal Fund has been set up by his Mother
If you can help please make a donation to his fund go to:
EXCERPT FROM CONFESSION OF KURT MICHAEL DANYSH
Given April 25,1996
( Nine years Before the FDA Issued Their Black Box warnings on PROZAC )
Kurt Danysh to police:
"I was on Prozac...it's supposed to calm me down and like level me out, but since I got on it, when something bothers me, it bothers me to [the] extreme...I just act differently. I don't have the energy or personality I used to. I spend half the time in a trance."
"I didn't even realize I did it, until after it was done, and then I realized it."
"This might sound weird, but it felt like something else, like I had no control [over] what I was doing; like I was left there just holding a gun."
"It felt like someone else shot him."
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Kurt Danysh has been in carcerated for 10 years for the crime he committed while having an Involuntary Adverse Reaction Event from an SSRI medication.
During his incarceration he has worked very hard to educate those on the inside of the Prison walls as well as the outside of the Dangers associated with Psychotic drugs on a small percentage of individuals.
Kurt is the Founder and Director of S.A.V.E . The Save Project, Stop Antidepressants Violence from Escalating,
You may contact him via mail at :
Director of S.A.V.E.
Mr. Kurt Danysh DL-4879
1111 Altamont Blvd.
Frackville, Pa. 17931
Please take a moment and view
S.A.V.E 's website
EXCERPTS FROM CONFESSION OF KURT MICHAEL DANYSH'S TO THE COURT
DURING HIS SENTENCING HEARING
Given NOVEMBER 20,1997
" I know my words won't mean much to some of you, but there is some things that I feel I need to say. First and most important, I never meant for this to happen.
If I was in control on that day, it would have never happened I know that doesn't lesson the pain or the loss or the anger, but it's the truth. Even though I had no control,Words can't begin to decribe how I feel. I feel the same hate and anger you do towards myself. The pain I feel will never fade.
Until the day I die, I will live knowing I killed my father... Everyday I relive April, 25 and I wish I could go back, and everyday I realize I can't , and nothing will bring my father back."
I am truly sorry for I have done...And to my Dad, who I know is watching, I want you to know I always loved you and I never meant to hurt you.
TIMELINE OF FACTS LEADING UP TO KURT'S CONVICTION
The timeline of facts was given to The Juvenile Justice Foundation by Kurt , in hopes that someone may read and offer assistance to Kurts case.
The Juvenile Justice Foundation as a sponsor to Kurts case will continue in it's efforts to help Kurt gain attention to his case and seek out any assistance available .
www.juvenilejusticefoundation.com copyright © 2005 all rights reserved
A VICTIM OF AN SSRI INVOLUNTARY ADVERSE REACTION EVENT
