PINELLAS COUNTY, Fl. – A Crossroads of Pinellas employee is accused of leaving 35-year-old man to die in a hot van.

Joshua Russell, 26-year-old employee of Pinellas County, was driving 35-year-old John Lapointe back to the group home following a hospital visit in May. Russell decided to stop at his home leaving Lapointe, who is not verbal and has Down Syndrome, in the vehicle.

At his home, Russell consumed kratom, a drug used for depression, anxiety, and many other conditions both recreationally and medically, to “feel more alert” (WXTL). Kratom is currently legal in the state of Florida, excluding Sarasota County.

Russell then returned to his vehicle after taking the drug and continued to drive until he began to feel nauseous and tired. He parked the car and took a nap.

Later, Russell woke up in a sweat and noticed that Lapointe was no longer breathing. According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Russell tried to revive Lapointe using CPR. The temperature inside the vehicle during the time of death was 125 degrees.

Russell called his mother with plans to take his own life. The mother called the authorities; they arrived on the scene after Lapointe was already pronounced dead by the paramedics.

Russel has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a disabled adult.