PROJECTGHB.ORG - Key Persons
Catherine Johnson is a senior detective assigned to the Sex Crime Section of the Special Victims Unit within the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, where drug-facilitated sexual assault has been a growing issue. She has taken a leadership role in promoting recognition of the drug rape issue. Detective Johnson graduated from Park University with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Detective Johnson has over eight years of law enforcement experience with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and has had over 400 hours of training in advanced police studies; specifically in sex crimes investigations and crisis intervention. Detective Johnson is a Distinguished Fellow with the Missouri chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, a member of the Intimate Partner Violence Taskforce with Truman Medical Center, as well as the founder of MoSAVE (Missouri Sexual Assault Violence Education). www.mosave.org
Detective Johnson currently assists in training new officers for the Crisis Intervention Team as well as new recruits on what to expect if they are asked to handle a call involving a victim of rape. She has developed training courses on victims engaged in high-risk lifestyles, and interviewing techniques for victims suffering from mental illness. She has conducted this training at multi-disciplinary conferences around the country, including Kansas City, MO; Columbia, MO; New Orleans, LA; and Choctaw, MS. She also presents at the training course for sexual assault nurse examiners and advocate volunteer training in the Kansas City area on what to expect from law enforcement during an investigation
During the course of her assignment to the Special Victims Unit, Detective Johnson has received recognition for her excellence, commitment, dedication, and tireless devotion to victims of sexual assault. Crimestoppers presented Detective Johnson with a Certificate of Appreciation in 2008. She also received a Meritorious Service Award from the Kansas City Missouri Police Department in 2008 and a Visionary Award from St. Luke's Hospital Forensic Care Program in 2009.
"I became involved with Project GHB approximately one year before the death of my son, Benjamin Croman. At that time it was "Ashes on the Sea." I desperately needed help as my son was heavily addicted and close to death. I needed information to help him and to become educated myself and have since worked to save others from the same fate." Ultimately, unfortunately, Ben did lose his battle (his story is told on our tragedies page).
Dr. Karen Miotto is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Bio-behavioral Sciences at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the Director of the UCLA Alcoholism and Addiction Medicine Service. She is frequently an invited speaker at national addiction meetings. In addition, she has published many professional papers and book chapters on substance abuse and pain management for addictive diseases. Her current research is on treatments for medication development for the treatment of addiction. She is the recipient of a career development award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study treatment for GHB withdrawal.
Mother of Kyle Hagmann, a young man whose tragic death from GHB at California Lutheran University was ignored by a law enforcement agency. The supplier continued to sell GHB and other drugs on the college campus and in the area for three more years before finally being arrested on a drug charge. This is another case where the system failed to bring about closure and justice. Kyle's case was left on the shelf until it was too late to prosecute for manslaughter. It was submitted to the District Attorney's Office on May 6, 2002, twelve days after the deadline. California has a three-year statute of limitations for manslaughter cases, though numerous other cases had been successfully prosecuted by that time. The supplier eventually lost his own life to a drug overdose in March 2005.
After Kyle's death, Elise and her husband Tony started a charitable golf tournament in Kyle's memory. The proceeds from the annual tournament benefit Project GHB and the Steven G. Mihaylo Big Bear High School Education Foundation. Through this foundation, the Hagmann's have established the Kyle Hagmann Memorial Scholarship as a lasting tribute to their only son. This perpetual scholarship is awarded annually to graduating seniors at Big Bear High School, which is the high school Kyle attended. Elise is a board member with the Steven G. Mihaylo Education Foundation and serves on the scholarship committee.
Elise has spoken to hundreds of high school students over the years, sharing Kyle's story. Her hope is to prevent another senseless tragedy by educating young people about the dangers of GHB.
John Vigallon has over 30 years experience with the drug culture. He has a Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling and is a certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators/Counselors he is the Executive Director of H.E.L.P. Adolescent Recovery and Educational Services, the President of the Northern California Juvenile Officers Association, Vice President of Project GHB.org, and Vice President of the Atwater Caring About Kids Council.
Laura Sabien Andrews is a survivor of a drug-facilitated sexual assault. She remained heavily involved with the entire process of her offender's prosecution. Determined not to be his victim, she followed through with every aspect the judicial system has to offer. From reporting the March of 2001 crime, to taking the stand as the state's witness, writing letters and speaking out to the Board of Pardons and the presiding Judge, Laura stayed focused that justice would prevail. Once her perpetrator was in prison, she sought damages in a civil court and was awarded almost half of a million dollars, though she has yet to find a way to collect it.
Her involvement did not stop with her own sexual assault. Laura was interviewed as part of a documentary about GHB and other drugs used in sex crimes. The events of her assault were reenacted on film. She openly presented her story at the International GHB conference. Her assault made public awareness when her story made the cover of Utah's own City Weekly.
Laura has raised 3 daughters as a single mother. She did her best to prepare them for "real life." Never did she prepare herself for being a victim of a sex crime.
Laura is currently working on a handbook for victims and their supporters to guide them through their journey of justice. She would like to see a more hands on interactive support team available to be there for the victim. Not just on day one, but throughout the entire process. This would ensure justice for the victim and turn them into survivors. This also could make a serious impact on sentencing criteria, plea bargaining that often sends sex offenders right back into society and, last but not least, more victim follow-through to the end. It's tough, but it's time. Past time. She is also hoping to make noise in and about Salt Lake City, UT about GHB and the horrific affects it can have. The day after the crime Laura called the Rape Crisis Center with questions about GHB. The crisis line counselor knew nothing about GHB. Do they today?
Laura has donated time and energy to Youth Empowerment Service of Utah, the Girl Scouts of America and a host of school fund raisers and activities. She has a management background specializing in fine dining and currently owns a small home-cooked food business as well as an executive housekeeping service.
Although the crime took place in 2001, it is never far from her mind. Today, she tells her story with humor and wit. Laura recently married her best friend of seven years and her daughters are all out of college and well on their way in "real life."
Job Titles:
- President, Project GHB Board
Trinka Porrata has experience in both journalism and law enforcement, with expertise in sexual assaults, child abuse and narcotics, especially the "trendy drugs of abuse" (those used at rave parties, in the club scene and as weapons of rape). Porrata retired from the Los Angeles Police Department in 1999 as a supervisor in street narcotics squads. During the last 3 ½ years at LAPD, Porrata became a nationally recognized expert on flunitrazepam (Rohypnol or roofies), gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB), MDMA (Ecstasy), ketamine (Special K) and LSD. Since retiring, Trinka has provided training, consultation and expert testimony on drug issues nationwide and internationally. She has been interviewed worldwide about drug abuse and speaks to high school and college groups, parents, law enforcement, medical personnel, prosecutors and counselors. Porrata maintains the Project GHB Addiction Helpline via the site. She is the editor of the new edition of Law Tech's Drug ID & Symptoms Guide, 2007, and editor/author of Project GHB's unique book "G'd Up 24/7: The GHB Addiction Guide," also by Law Tech, 2007. She has published articles in various magazines/journals and has authored chapters in other books as well.She wrote the basic script for "Just A Routine Traffic Stop," a training film about prescription drug diversion, produced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (won five national awards) in 1998. She also wrote the script for and narrated a video on awareness/prevention of drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Her article entitled "Our Nation's Exploding Drug Crisis," was published in California Narcotics Officers Association magazine August 1999. Her article entitled, "A Killer on the Loose," was published in the California Highway Patrol magazine August 1997. An article on GHB appeared in the IACP magazine May 2000. She wrote an article entitled "GHB-Forever Changing the Fabric of Sexual Assault Investigations," in the Sexual Assault Report (Jan/Feb 2000, Vol. 3, #3. She has also produced/marketed Power Point presentations on club drugs and one on investigating drug-facilitated sexual assaults, and a presentation for high school and college students (also sold through Project GHB). She co-authored a chapter on the drugs used in sexual assault in "Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Handbook," Academic Press, published 2000. Her training materials have been reprinted extensively and made available in training sessions for thousands of officers and other professionals. Her booklet, "While You Were Sleeping," walks you through a GHB trip and was entered in the Congressional Record by Texas Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee during the testimony to pass federal legislation regarding GHB and its analogs.
Porrata has been interviewed by news media extensively. She appeared in a documentary entitled "Better Living Through Circuitry" about RAVEs and has been on Good Morning America, 20/20, NBC Nightly News, EXTRA, Dateline, twice on the Leeza Show, three times on The Montel Show, plus the Maureen O'Boyle Show and numerous other news interviews. She was interviewed by France's CAPA TV and appeared on the 60 Minutes Show of the United Kingdom. She has assisted other shows re various drugs as well. One of the earliest interviews resulted in the History Channel 3-part series "Hooked" which is still aired at least a few times each year. She has been quoted in numerous articles, including ones by USA Today, US News & World Report, Newsweek, Detroit News, LA Times and NY Daily News, Philadelphia Enquirer, Family Circle, Seventeen & Glamour magazines, Reader's Digest, Matrix, Heath, etc.
Porrata also testifies as an expert witness in certain drug related cases and provides consultation on drug-related matters.