Friends, Family Share Fond Memories of Fenton Teenagers One Year After Heroin Deaths

Instead of tears, there were smiles and warm stories Wednesday as Community Parent along with friends and family remembered two teenage girls who died of heroin overdoses one year ago.

Friends Briona Jawhari and Erika Schlosser died within days of each other in February of 2011. During a Remembrance Ceremony at Fenton Township Hall Wednesday, residents shared their fondest memories of the two girls instead of talking about the horror that has haunted the families since their deaths.

Genesee County Undersheriff Chris Swanson led the ceremony, noting the lives the girls have changed through their death with the start of Community Parent, and Chasing the Dragon.

The girls' fathers, Sam Jawhari and Ron Schlosser, both talked about the girls debating skills. Both girls were on a youth debate team and would often use those skills in arguments at home.

"I'd have to say what I had to say then add 'there's no debating,' or else she find some way to win the argument," Jawhari said.

Schlosser talked about one discussion with Erika in which she was so determined he was wrong, the next day she wrote a letter to him explaining why.

Friends and family also wrote notes on heart-shaped balloons and released them into the night.