Editor's Note: While Bobby and Chastity Brown suspect that drug overdose is the reason for Jaxon Brown's death, and drugs were located in the room with him when he died, the toxicology report has not officially confirmed the cause of death. Jaxon was also hypoglycemic and that may have contributed to or been the cause of his death. Updated June 5, 2025 at 11:40am.
Bobby and Chastity Brown are suffering a loss that most parents can’t even bear to imagine. Less than three weeks ago, they buried their son after he died from a drug overdose.
Jaxon William Andrew Brown was 21 when he died on May 15. On that dreadful day, his dad, Bobby, had not heard from him. Jaxon spoke to his dad numerous times a day and Brown became concerned. A call was placed to the sheriff’s department requesting a welfare check on Jaxon.
When the deputies arrived at his residence, they did not get an answer at the door. As Bobby arrived with law enforcement also on the scene, he kicked the door in. Once inside, Bobby found his son lying in his bed, and in that moment, this father’s worst fear came true. His son had overdosed and was dead.
A family of strong faith, Bobby and Chastity struggled with the reality of what happened. Reflecting on the days prior, they realized that he was crying out for help. The day before he died, Jaxon had sent them a scripture – James 1:12.
“It was God himself speaking to us,” said Bobby, “and we just didn’t realize it until afterwards.”
Jaxon had repeatedly written “Jesus” in the dirt on the bed of his truck. He was working at a house in Berea and wrote “Jesus” all throughout the house on the studs and sent photos to his dad.
According to his stepmom, Chastity, he had overdosed on opioids once before. He got back on track for awhile afterwards and attended college for half of a semester, but then he changed, and his parents knew he was slipping back into old habits and drugs.
Jaxon spent six months in a rehabilitation center and was released in December 2024.
“When he came out of rehab, he was just a different person,” Chastity said. “I didn’t know this, but from what we are learning it takes a person’s brain 16 months to regulate and live without it. It comes from the brain stem, which is involuntary. It regulates your respiratory drive and your heartbeat. It’s like you feel like you have to have it to live.”
As Bobby and Chastity learn more about how drug addiction affects the brain and the challenges abusers face in trying to change their life, they want to channel their grief into helping others.
“Our goal is to educate, because had we known this, we would have done something different,” Chastity said. “Education is paramount.”
Chastity said a message of telling children “just say no” falls short of reality.
“This group of children now want to know why. Why should I say no. They want an explanation. Now, it’s not about just educating the children, but it’s about educating the parents of children who have been in addiction,” said Chastity.
Teaching parents how to recognize addiction in children is one of the key focuses of the Browns. Educating them on what to look for in their children. They saw signs in Jaxon, such as weight loss, but he was working outside every day and he dismissed their suspicions with that excuse.
At one point, they took Jaxon back to the rehabilitation center for further treatment. He called the next day and said that he was being released. According to the facility, his drug screen was negative so they had no reason to keep him and he didn’t need their services.
“There is a lapse in education and there is a lapse from the six months to home. A lot of people that come out, come out with nowhere to go but back home where they don’t need to be,” said Chastity. “That wasn’t the case with Jaxon. We tried every way we could to safeguard him.”
Research has shown that people with addiction are more successful in recovery if they are removed from the people and places that were part of their environment when using drugs.
The Browns have hired an attorney who is establishing a nonprofit 501c foundation called, “The Jaxon Brown Foundation.” They are also developing a clothing brand to raise awareness and all the funds will go to the foundation.
They hope to be able to own and operate a sober living facility, a place for people to go between rehabilitation centers and home. The Browns have a meeting set up to learn all the details of this type of facility and have spoken to a grant writer to assist with obtaining funds.
“We just can’t sit back and do nothing. It can’t have been a loss in vain,” Chastity said. “We have to figure out where to channel and fill in the link. Wherever the puzzle piece is missing, we need to figure out where that is and plug that.”
Jaxon suffered from severe anxiety and depression. His parents divorced when he was seven, and Bobby said Jaxon really struggled after that.
“Most people that struggle with depression like that feel like they want to make everyone happy so that they don’t have to deal with what they are dealing with on the inside,” said Bobby.
Bobby and Chastity also have wonderful memories of Jaxon, who loved to hunt and fish. He could light up a room, they say. Bobby gave him the nickname “Jack Rabbit” years ago, and he was lovingly known by that name.
Jaxon was a good person who fell victim to a terrible epidemic. He had a family who loved him and whom he loved. The Browns want to make sure that their son’s life is remembered and hope to save lives by sharing their story.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
