Pine Ridge mother plans memorial walk

Tuesday, January 8, 2008  

A mother from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota has organized a walk and run in memory of her son, who died last summer.

Robin Tapio wants to urge youth to stay off drugs and alcohol. Her son, Vergil Pourier, abused marijuana, cocaine and alcohol before his death in a car accident on June 2, 2006.

“I’m hoping that this walk and run will bring an awareness” Tapio told The Rapid City Journal of the event set for this Friday, January 11.

Tapio said her son started using drugs at the home of Geraldine Blue Bird. Federal prosecutors said Blue Bird was the ringleader of a major drug trafficking ring on the reservation. Blue Bird and 27 other people were convicted and sentenced in connection with the case.

Get the Story:
Grieving mom plans walk for youth (The Rapid City Journal 1/8)
Blue Bird drug case wraps up after two years (The Rapid City Journal 1/8)

Related Stories:
Final Pine Ridge drug ring defendant pleads guilty (8/22)
Pine Ridge drug traffickers appeal convictions (4/25)
More indictments in Pine Ridge drug trafficking ring (12/6)
Mistrial sought in Pine Ridge trafficking case (10/19)
Jury finds five guilty in Pine Ridge trafficking case (10/5)
Pine Ridge drug trafficking case sent to jury (10/4)
Five on trial for trafficking cocaine to Pine Ridge (09/20)