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Questions Follow Polk Teen's Death

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

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TAMPA - Kyle Hall grew up with a twin brother, but to friends the 19-year-old former high school football player was unique.

The Lakeland teenager died Sunday after attending two parties. Those who knew him remembered Monday how he walked around shirtless to show off a new tattoo of his last name and thrust himself into any group picture, just to be the center of attention.

Kyle Hall

"He was one of those people where you could be having the worst day and just being around him would turn your whole day around," said friend Erik Worthington, 20, of Lakeland. "Like a ball of sunshine, you know?"

Polk County sheriff's detectives have not determined whether to file charges against anyone in connection with Hall's death. The sheriff's office has said the homeowners may face charges related to underage drinking and drug use. Monday, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said other charges could be levied against anyone who provided Hall with narcotics.

Detectives are investigating the possibility Hall had purchased the prescription painkiller OxyContin, Wood said. Formal toxicology results from an autopsy will take weeks, she said.

"If it is determined there is criminal liability, those individuals will be charged," Wood said.

Deputies found Hall unresponsive at 6576 Crews Lake Crest Loop in Lakeland just before 5 a.m. Sunday. The homeowner, Don Gifford, was not at home at the time, Wood said.

Hall was pronounced dead about an hour later at Bartow Regional Medical Center. Witnesses told detectives Hall attended a party at Gifford's house as well as another in the Christina subdivision earlier.

Don Gifford's wife, Tina, was crying Monday when reached by phone. "There was not an open house party. It was invited guests. This is a tragedy that cannot be described," she said before hanging up.

Friend James Liebl, who played football for Jenkins High School in Lakeland with Hall, attended the earlier party for a friend entering the Marines. Liebl said he learned later Sunday that Hall had died.

"We're all trying to hang in there," he said.

Hall has a twin brother, Corey, and an older brother, Chris, Liebl said. Hall's father, Kirk, operates a trash-hauling company called 1-800-Got-Junk, he said.

Attempts to reach the Halls by phone were unsuccessful Monday.

The death shocked many friends, said another pal, Cody Coughlin, 18, of Lakeland

"Kyle was one of a kind," Coughlin wrote in an e-mail. "He died at a young age and it's not fair to him, his family, or friends. Every person that met him knows this and was deeply hurt by the news."

Worthington thought whoever partied with Hall bore some responsibility in his death.

"Honestly, I'm just mad at the people who were with him. They should've looked after him better," he said. "Hopefully, everyone will take this as a wake-up call that you don't need all that for one night of fun."

For now, he said, he wants to honor Hall's last wishes. The friends talked recently about how, if they were to die, they would want everyone they knew to come to their funerals, he said.

"We didn't want anyone to be sad or cry. If anything, just have a party for us," Worthington said.

Editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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