Connecticut judge pushes for mental health court after daughter’s overdose death

Connecticut judge pushes for mental health court after daughter’s overdose death

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - A Connecticut Superior Court judge who lost his daughter to a fentanyl overdose is now working to build the state’s first mental health court, joining a task force aimed at connecting people with mental health resources before they cycle through the criminal justice system.

Dan Klau’s daughter, Miriam, struggled for years with borderline personality traits, ADHD, narcolepsy and, later, a substance abuse disorder.

“She had executive function issues related to borderline personality traits, ADHD,” Klau said. “She also suffered from narcolepsy. Then, after high school, she developed a substance abuse disorder.”

Miriam left home at 18 and hitchhiked across the country. She was arrested in New York City in August 2015 after developing a heroin addiction while living on the streets.

“She eventually ended up living on the streets in New York City with a bad heroin habit. She was arrested in August of 2015,” Klau said.

Miriam cycled in and out of court-ordered drug treatment programs, but was repeatedly removed when staff were unable to manage her other mental health conditions alongside her substance use.

“She would have these crazy outbursts, not physically violent, but emotionally unhinged. They would go on for hours,” Klau said.

The family eventually found a treatment facility in Los Angeles capable of addressing all of Miriam’s needs. She completed the program, moved to California and remained sober for a year. Then, in the early morning hours, the family received a call from Miriam’s boyfriend.

“It was her boyfriend, and he said, ‘The first responders are here. Miriam’s overdosed. I found her in the bathroom.’ And he was standing there, watching them try to resuscitate her and reporting to us. That went on for a few minutes. Then a police officer picked up the phone and said, ‘I’m so sorry, we couldn’t revive her.’ That’s how we found out,” Klau said.

Miriam had relapsed. Her drugs were laced with fentanyl.

Klau said he has continued to discover creative work Miriam left behind, including a recording of her singing. On the one-year anniversary of her death, the family played it at her grave.

“I put the phone on her headstone and hit play. We listened to Miriam sing Hallelujah from her grave, literally,” Klau said.

Connecticut has more than 40 courts that hear criminal cases, but none are specifically designed to address mental health. Klau has joined a task force working to establish a mental health court in the state, with the goal of connecting defendants to appropriate resources from the start of their involvement with the legal system.

The court would not be open to violent criminals, Klau said. A pilot program is planned for 2028.

“If we can help those people get treatment, rather than sit in jail, I know Miriam would be thrilled. I would be ecstatic,” Klau said.

Klau said his motivation is personal.

“I’m driven to make sure that her death has some positive meaning in life,” he said.

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