Indiana Doctor Killed After Dispute Over Opioid Prescription: Authorities

MISHAWAKA, IN — An Indiana man fatally shot a doctor after a dispute during an appointment where the doctor refused to prescribe the man's wife opioids, authorities said.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter told reporters at a news conference that the man, 48-year-old Michael Jarvis, became upset when Dr. Todd Graham, 56, indicated either to him or to his wife that he would not be prescribing the wife opioids.

"A conflict and an argument ensued," Cotter told reporters. "It was Dr. Graham's opinion that chronic pain did not require prescription drugs."

Cotter said Jarvis and his wife separated and at some point Jarvis came back. Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dr. Graham was going from one building to the next when he came in contact with Jarvis again and another argument broke out. Dr. Graham continued on his way to the building he was going to. He parked his car and got out but Cotter said Jarvis had followed him there.

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Jarvis told two witnesses who were nearby to leave and the witnesses saw a gun, Cotter said. He then shot and killed Dr. Graham, Cotter said, before leaving the area and going to his friend's house. The friend contacted law enforcement out of concern for Jarvis' safety and by the time authorities got there Jarvis had killed himself, Cotter said.

Jarvis and Dr. Graham had had at least one confrontation prior to the one that claimed both their lives, Cotter said.

"Make no mistake, this was a person who made a choice to kill Dr. Graham," Cotter said. "This was not a fallout from any opioid epidemic or any opioid problems. This was a person who made that choice. That probably leads us into an examination of what is happening with the opioid problem in our community and frankly in our whole nation."

Cotter said whether Jarvis' decision to kill Dr. Graham had anything to do with the opioid crisis was something authorities don't know for sure.

Jarvis' wife had not previously been prescribed opioids by Dr. Graham.

"He did what we ask our doctors to do, don't overprescribe opioids," Cotter said. "And unfortunately Jarvis made that decision to take his life."

Whether that was the only reason was not something Cotter said he could say for sure.

"Was that a contributing factor? There seems to be some indication it was," he said.

Cotter said it was clear that the wife did not know about Jarvis' actions.

"Anyone who came into contact with Todd was struck by the sparkle in his eye when he discussed his three children, his work and his relationship with his loving wife, Julie," Dr. Graham's obituary said.

His obituary noted that he was born in Athens, Illinois and he studied medicine at Northwestern after graduating from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

"Outside of work, Todd was an avid traveler and rallied many friends and family members to join him. His frequent visits to Saint Barthelemy earned him the nickname as mayor of the island," the obituary said. "Todd looked forward to traveling the world alongside his loved ones. His thirst for exploring led him on many wild adventures."

He leaves behind his wife, three children, his sister, several nieces and nephews and four dogs.