Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau conducted a preliminary investigation, along with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, regarding the sudden unexplained death of Griffen Kramer, an 18-year old Thousand Oaks High School athlete and the son of retired pro-football player, Erik Kramer.
Griffen was found unconscious and unresponsive in a friend’s bedroom in the City of Agoura Hills by deputies from the Malibu-Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station after receiving a 911 call at a residence in the 27000 block of Country Glen Rd on Oct. 30, 2011.
The initial investigation indicated Griffen had likely died from an overdose.
“We’re still waiting for a toxicology results to determine the ultimate cause of death,” said Sgt. Barry Hall of the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.
L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators were able to identify several individuals who had interacted and had associations with Griffen in the hours preceding his death.
These individuals were also believed to have been involved in narcotics related activities associated with Griffen. As a result, investigators obtained search warrants for several locations and persons, in an effort to collect evidence related to these narcotic activities, including any evidence directly related to the events leading to Griffen’s death.
Investigators have learned that on Oct. 29, 2011, Griffen, Suspect Nernberg and one juvenile met at Sumac Park in Agoura Hills.
They drove to a nearby cul-de-sac where investigators were told Griffen injected narcotics, causing him to immediately become ill and unconscious.
Rather than seek medical attention, suspect Nernberg allegedly dragged the unconscious Griffen into his car and drove around the area for a while. During this time Nernberg called some individuals who are also believed to be involved in narcotics, asking them if he could drive over to their residences, however he was denied permission because their parents were home at the time.
Nernberg then drove to his residence in the 27000 block of Country Glen Road, Agoura Hills, and dragged the still unconscious Griffen from the car to his bedroom.
The next morning when Nernberg woke up, he saw the Griffen was still unconscious.
“He woke up the following morning and called 911 because Griffen was unresponsive,” Sheriff’s Sergeant Barry Hall said.
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, Griffen was believed to be deceased for several hours before Nernberg called 911.
On Thursday, November 17, 2011, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Investigators served several search warrants on locations in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village (Los Angeles County), and Oak Park (Ventura County) in conjunction with Griffen’s death investigation. Four people were arrested and later booked at the Malibu-Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Two of the people arrested were adults and two were juveniles.
Nineteen year old Suspect David Nernberg of Agoura Hills was arrested and booked for Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Nineteen year old Suspect Corey Baumann of Agoura Hills was also arrested and booked for Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales.
Both were held in lieu of $125,000.00 bail. Both soon were released on bond.
In addition to the two adults arrested were two juveniles; a 17-year old male from Oak Park was arrested and booked for Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
He is currently being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall without bail. During the search warrant at his residence, five children were taken into protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services Response Team due to deplorable living conditions.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies are handling the investigation and custody of the children.
A 17-year old female juvenile from Westlake Village was also taken into protective custody at another location by the Department of Children and Family Services Response Team due to deplorable living conditions. Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies are also handling the custody of the children.
The other juvenile suspect, also a 17-year old male from Agoura Hills, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was cited and released to the custody of his parents.
If you have any information about this case, please contact L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Sergeant Barry Hall or Sergeant Richard Biddle at (323) 890-5500.
Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
