PHOENIX - On the run for more than a year, Doctor Jesse Haggard is now in federal custody, charged with more than 15 felonies.
Haggard is the former medical director of Revolution Medical Centers in Phoenix, where anabolic steroids were a prescription of choice.
"If he has any remorse, he's going to have to suffer this for the rest of his life," said Alice Vorves of Phoenix, whose son John was a body builder.
John Vorves died from an accidental overdose in 2006.
Witnesses told state investigators Vorves was constantly taking pills and shooting steroids.
In one month, Haggard prescribed him more than 220 pain killers, an excessive amount according to investigators.
"They can't be thinking about people's health and welfare if they've got a business like that," Alice Vorves said.
Haggard's name appears on multiple bottles of hydrocodone found at the scene of his death.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner lists hydrocodone overdose as the cause of death.
Haggard disappeared after ABC15 went undercover inside Revolution Medical Centers, documenting how anabolic steroids were being prescribed illegally.
The ABC15 Investigators also uncovered several patient deaths.
At this time, neither Haggard nor anyone else associated with Revolution Medical Centers is facing any charges related to these deaths.
Haggard fled the country while state and federal agents were closing in on his practice.
While on the run, he maintained a
blog in which he chronicles how he avoided arrest and challenges law enforcement's knowledge of medicine.
Despite his indictment on multiple charges of illegal drug distribution, Haggard was offering his medical services to patients online.
Haggard wrote, "I left the US in order to have time, resources (like a computer and internet access) and limited distractions (such as media, law officials or medical board officials) to build a very organized case that justified my previous actions, of prescribing steroids to patients, beyond doubt to everyone. This was intended to be temporary."
Haggard wrote about life in Costa Rica and contacting the Drug Enforcement Administration, while federal agents were busy searching his family's home in Phoenix.
"I called Steven Lamkin this morning, who is the DEA agent according to my father, who searched his house looking for me several months ago," Haggard wrote.
Broke and out of options, Haggard blogged about turning himself in to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and flying to Orlando, where U.S. Marshals took him into custody.
Back in Phoenix, Alice Vorves said justice can't some soon enough.
"It's a relief because he's not out there anymore, you know, so nobody else is going to get hurt by him," Vorves said.
Haggard is currently being held in Mobile, Alabama, where he was indicted for prescribing anabolic steroids meant for cattle to humans.
ADDITIONAL EXCERPTS FROM DOCTOR JESSE HAGGARD'S BLOG:
"I thought about it all night and then the next day. I missed my family horribly and I felt like the world’s worst father. I am a felon, dirt poor and no there for my kids as they moved and began a new school. My phone calls to them are limited of course due to cost and email is difficult to obtain a good bond with a six and ten year old. I tried for over one and a half years with 100% effort to change my situation with no results. I did not want to live this lifestyle any longer.
"I told my family that I was ready to return to the US. They were shocked of course, but universally happy that I am coming back. I have some things to work out here and will need additional help to fulfill my responsibilities here before I leave. I will contact the DEA before I travel to make the transition as smooth as possible at customs."
"I asked Mr. Lamkin some questions of curiosity. I asked him if he had been actively looking for me. He said I obviously knew he went to my father’s house, but I asked after that. He said yes. I asked how hard he looked and if he ever contacted my attorney directly that I was in contact with for the medical board case as I put together research for my case. He said he was not able to discuss the tactics that were used to locate me. I got the impression that the DEA was not that putting forth a great effort to look for me these days, which confirmed my suspicion that I am not a person with a high priority to find."
"The media and this board are ridiculing me for being passionate about my profession when I have only tried to embrace what patient’s are asking for: nutritional supplements, exercise training programs and hormone replacement. I invested tens of thousands of dollars in education, far beyond the average naturopath, to be educated by the world’s best in the field. Also I have invested countless hours of post graduate study reading research and trying to sort through all of the data to arrive at true concepts of medicine, for what? Moreover, I was the most professional practitioner I could be. My clothes were always pressed and neat, my shoes were shined flawlessly everyday and I was always highly professional with other employees and patients. I find it ironic to now be interpreted as a doctor who is unprofessional and that I did not know what I was doing. My life has always been blessed and everything in my life has happened for a reason that has bettered my life or others around me. Although I do not understand the course of events in this situation, I hope this letter or my book play a significant role in stimulating a change to better the world. I also hope that these items were not generated at the expense of my naturopathic license for I feel I am an asset to naturopathic medicine."
"Although I drove my truck here, I am not willing to drive it back. It was very dangerous the first time and I feel we only made it by sheer luck. It took a lot of bribing, constantly being pulled over for being American and escaping from bandits. All of the bribing, fees to cross through countries and gas to travel the 3,400 miles was cumulatively expensive as well. Furthermore, I fear it would be worse now with all of the current political instability in Mexico."
"It is official; I purchased a plane ticket from San Jose, Costa Rica to Orlando, Florida to depart Friday, October 2. I will make the 5 to 6 hour trip to San Jose (2 hour bus, 1 hour and 10 minute ferry and 2 and a half hour bus ride) Thursday and stay the night in San Jose next to the airport. Friday morning, I will be right next to the airport to meet the agents from the US Embassy. From there, they will escort me through customs and verify that I get on the plane. In Orlando, the US Marshals will be waiting for me and take me to Mobile, Alabama where I will present for pre-trial. If I am released on my own recognizance, I am not sure where I will stay until trial. Anyone have any family or friends who want a visitor in Mobile, Alabama?"
