A Desperate Connecticut Father, a Troubled Son and Death in a 5-Star Hotel

A desperate Connecticut father, a troubled son and death in a 5-star hotel

John T. McGowan had hoped sitting in a dentist’s chair in Ridgefield, Connecticut, for a three-hour root canal would be the worst part of his day. It was Nov. 11, 2024, and John, 66, knew he had a long afternoon ahead. His youngest son, Henry, was struggling with significant mental health issues and was traveling in Europe, far from his parents, his four siblings and his psychiatrist. In a long phone conversation from Paris the night before, Hen…

A desperate father, a troubled son and death in a 5-star hotel

John T. McGowan had hoped sitting in a periodontist's chair in Ridgefield, Connecticut, for a three-hour root canal would be the worst part of his day. It was Nov. 11, 2024, and John, 66, knew he had a long afternoon ahead. His youngest son, Henry, was struggling with significant mental health issues and was traveling in Europe, far from his parents, his four siblings and his psychiatrist.