PORT ANGELES — The mother and grandmother of a 17-year-old boy who died of a suspected heroin overdose have set up memorial funds at two area banks to collect donations for a headstone to mark his grave at Mount Angeles Memorial Park.
Maceo Niehaus was found dead May 14 at a home in the 700 block of South Ennis Street.
Police said he was the victim of a suspected heroin overdose.
Police said they suspected David Zavodny, 18, of Port Angeles of providing Niehaus with heroin.
Zavodny was charged a few days later with one count of maintaining premises for drug trafficking after being arrested at the Ennis Street home where he lived.
Zavodny remained in jail Tuesday in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Miranda Cedar, Maceo’s mother, has set up Maceo’s Memorial Fund at Strait-View Credit Union to pay the $2,500 to $2,700 it will take to place a headstone on her son’s grave.
“Our main goal is that we’d really like to get a headstone for him as soon as possible,” Cedar said.
Ricki Niehaus, Maceo’s grandmother, said she will use money donated to a Kitsap Bank fund, established soon after Maceo’s death to cover funeral expenses, to help pay for the headstone.
May 23 funeral
Maceo was laid to rest May 23 after a funeral attended by an estimated 300 friends and family members.
Ricki Niehaus said the Kitsap Bank account has about $400 in it, while Cedar said the Strait-View fund contains $27 so far.
“Money will be used from both accounts to go toward the headstone,” Cedar said.
In a Tuesday interview, Ricki Niehaus said the gravestone will feature a color picture of Maceo and likely musical notes, since the 17-year-old enjoyed music.
“Something that represents him,” she added.
Cedar said she hopes the headstone, once placed, will at least in part make Maceo’s friends realize the seriousness of the drug use that is suspected of contributing to his death.
“If they could see Maceo is buried there, they could think, ‘My God,’ and maybe it could help them,” Cedar said.
To give to the Kitsap Bank account, phone 360-457-8189 and ask to donate to Maceo’s Memorial Fund.
To donate to the Strait-View Credit Union fund, phone 360-452-3883 and ask for Maceo’s Memorial Fund, which is listed under the name “Miranda Cedar.”
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
