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Suspect in alleged Alabama meth lab succumbs to heart attack

By Howard B. Owens

One of the three suspects in an alleged meth lab operation uncovered in November died May 17.

At the time of this death, charges were still pending against Kenneth Mosholder, 45, as well as the other two defendants in the case, Dustin R. Benham, 20, of Darien and a 41-year-old woman from Batavia.

Mosholder's obituary was published on The Batavian by Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home yesterday. We confirmed today with the Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo that the obituary was for the same Mosholder charged in the case.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said only that, "the case is proceeding."

Mosholder, according to the obituary, suffered a heart attack.

Local law enforcement as well as the DEA announced a raid on a property in Alabama on Nov. 12. It was one of five suspected meth labs uncovered in the county over a couple of months late in 2009. The property was auctioned off in March for back taxes.

George Richardson

Can't they dig him up so we can put him in a pillory and throw stones at him? It's not fair, he can't die before we kill him. It's not fair.

May 27, 2010, 2:47pm Permalink
Tim Howe

Yes Mike innocent till proven gulity is the backbone of our legal system and is something we should all hold dear, but with that being said, i could not agree more with Michael and George.

Chances are that "alleged" scumbag was destroying lives around him and his community by peddling that poison he was "allegedly" making. It really hurts every day when you see Batavia and surrounding little towns having problems like this, cause all its doing is turning us into rochester jr. and/or buffalo jr more and more day by day....Very sad.

May 27, 2010, 4:31pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

Regardless of the alleged crimes Mr. Mosholder had committed, he still has family who will grieve his death and they deserve our respect.

Seems like there may be too many pots calling the kettles black here.

I could see if this were a Jr. High School paper, but I think most of us are adults here.....grow up boys!!

May 27, 2010, 4:57pm Permalink
Michael Tost

Pots calling kettles black?? I think not. I actually contribute to society. I work hard and pay taxes. I obey the law and do not promote the destruction of other lives. That person and I have nothing in common. Where you came up with that assumption is beyond me.(Feel free to humor me though) I meant no disrespect to his family what so ever. My comment was directed to this criminal and only him. I think that's pretty obvious. If this guy's family had any idea what he was allegedly up to, they wouldn't have had anything to do with him. You can bet your ass if he was in any relation to me , I'd be singing the same tune. And just for clarification, he wasn't having some relapse after kicking the habit. HE WAS PRODUCING METH WITH THE INTENT TO SELL!!!

May 27, 2010, 6:59pm Permalink
Mike Corona

Mr. Tost thanks for being a model citizen first off. How can you say you met no disrespect to his family? Your comment was only directed to this criminal???? If you have the ability to talk to the dead good for you, but there is a good chance Mr. Mosholder will not be reading the Batavian any time soon. So who was it really intended for?? Not only don't I want you on a jury I hope you dont have children who ever find themselves a victim of an addiction, because Daddy is going to GIVE UP ON YOU! "you can bet your ass".

May 27, 2010, 7:38pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Odd, Ken and I went to the same high school. His age is the same as mine and yet he was 2 years behind me. I didn't know him at all but he always seemed to have self-esteem issues. Never thought of him as a "druggie". Kinda sad, but even more sad is what he may have been involved in and how it could ruin so many lives. It is easy to judge people without knowing their story, but still...how could anyone knowingly produce something that is so horrible and knows exactly what it does to those addicted to it.

May 27, 2010, 7:54pm Permalink
Michael Tost

Mr. Corona (I prefer corona light, with lime). Allow me to rephrase my "directed to this criminal" statement. What I meant was his "alleged actions." This man was (as I previously stated) producing meth with the intent to sell. He had a 20 yr old in his house cooking it. We all have the power to make decisions that affect our lives and the ones around us. My sympathy goes out to his family and I hope they can recover from his death and the embarrassment he has caused them. No one should have to go through that. I have, and that is exactly why I feel so strongly about it. This man was no kid. He was 45. Old enough to know right from wrong. regardless of his own addiction, there's no fathomable reason to bring others into it. Thankfully he won't be dragging his family through a trial. Addiction is a horrible disease and everyone deserves a chance to better themselves, but quite frankly, based on the DEA's lengthy investigation into this, I don't believe he was trying to better himself. He was trying to sell it to make money, most likely not to catch up on his taxes. And I'll bet my ass on it.

May 27, 2010, 8:08pm Permalink

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