OD victim’s mom: Holland Tunnel suspects ‘heroes’ for rescue attempt

The mother of a woman whose overdose death in New York City spurred a rescue attempt by three people arrested with a cache of weapons near the Holland Tunnel says the suspects are heroes for trying to help.

John Cramsey, Dean Smith and Kimberly Arendt, all from Pennsylvania, were arrested June 21 as they prepared to enter the tunnel in a truck carrying weapons including a semi-automatic military-style rifle, a shotgun and five handguns.

Cramsey had posted online he was heading to New York to "rescue" a 16-year-old girl whose friend had overdosed.

Mandy Powell, of Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, has identified her daughter, 20-year-old Sierra Schmitt, as the overdose victim. She tells The Citizens' Voice of Wilkes-Barre, "They are heroes, not convicts."

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