An Innocent Breath: The Ketamine, the Carotid, and a Broken System

On a summer night in 2019, Elijah McClain was walking home, his only crime being a young Black man in a ski mask on a cool evening. A "suspicious person" call led to a violent police encounter in Aurora, Colorado, that ended with the 23-year-old massage therapist being rendered unconscious by a carotid hold. Paramedics then administered a powerful sedative, ketamine. He never woke up. This is the story of a life cut tragically short—a gentle, violin-playing soul who harmed no one. The investigation delves into the catastrophic chain of events, the initial lack of accountability, and the global outcry that turned Elijah's name into a rallying cry for justice and police reform, forcing a re-examination of use-of-force and medical procedures during arrests.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime--6473403/support.