Another question Jan Collard has is why prosecutors haven't filed charges against the owner of the restaurant where the teens got the liquor. She said her daughter maintains that the man knew the boys had the alcohol and did nothing to stop them from drinking it.

When contacted by the Deseret News, the restaurant owner denied the Collards' allegation and said the boys broke into a locked manager's office through a false ceiling.

"It was an unfortunate incident," he said. "The kids that were involved are the ones that should be criminally charged."

Prosecutors have said that they have no evidence that he purposely provided alcohol to Horrocks or the other juveniles.

Deputy Uintah County Attorney Mike Drechsel, who prosecutes juvenile offenders, said he was unsure whether any of the teens involved in the incident had been referred to juvenile court. Drechsel was contacted early Monday morning as he was leaving his office for court and did not have an opportunity to research the matter.

Defense attorney Craig M. Snyder, who is representing Candice Collard, said prosecutors have indicated that an autopsy of Horrocks was not conducted.

"The fact that there was no autopsy done is a surprise to me," he said, adding that he is also surprised that any charges were filed against his client. "From the standpoint of criminal charges being filed against her, it's unusual."

Snyder said Candice Collard didn't provide Horrocks with alcohol, wasn't present when he consumed alcohol, and chose to take him to the home she was staying in because she thought he was merely unconscious, not dying. He said the county attorney's decision to pursue criminal charges in the case could have a chilling effect on whether other people choose to get involved if someone needs help.

"It certainly will make people think twice about being a Good Samaritan," he said. "That's how it appears to me."

Candice Collard's preliminary hearing in 8th District Court is scheduled for Oct. 29. She remains in jail due to unrelated felony drug charges pending in Utah County.

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E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com