SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — "He was sweet, you know, he was the sweetest, funniest guy. Just goofy," said mother Alyssa Eman.
On Nov. 14, Eman said she didn't hear her son running down the stairs in the morning like usual, so she went to get him up for school.
"His back was to me, so I didn't really see anything right away. So I said, 'Donevan what is your problem? Why are you ignoring me?'" said Eman.
But she couldn't wake her 16-year-old, "There was no movement, and I started to feel his face and he was really cold."
The Arlington Police Department said Donevan Hester died from a suspected fentanyl overdose. "It's the worst feeling in the world. To be so helpless and not able to protect them. I will live with that pain for the rest of my life," said Eman.
"They're very easily accessible. They get them through social media apps, they get them through school and through sports teams," said Lt. Peter Barrett with the Arlington Police Department.
Police are seeing an increase in youth using and being exposed to drugs like fentanyl.
"We want parents to have those open conversations with their kids about the dangers and accessibility of it and that it only takes one time and could cost their life," said Barrett.
Eman said she was shocked to find out from friends that her son had used fentanyl before, considering his grades were the best they'd ever been and he was just accepted into the fire protection program.
"They told me he wanted to stop, but he was having a hard time stopping because it was in the schools," she said.
Hester was a student at Lakewood High School. In a statement, the Lakewood School District said schools have Narcan available, vape detectors are used in the bathrooms and lessons on substance use are taught in all health classes.
"I'm hoping parents can see that this is happening," said Eman.
Now, a box on the mantle is the closest Eman can get to seeing her son, "Picking up your son like this is the last thing a mother wants to do."
Eman's family has set up a GoFundMe to help with Hester's funeral expenses.
Arlington Police told KING 5 they are actively investigating Hester's death and if they can find the person who sold or gave him the drugs, police will pursue criminal charges.