John Taylor Skilling, the ex-Enron Chief's Son, died.
John Taylor Skilling, a communications major at Chapman College in Orange, Calif., was found dead from a drug overdose.
Paramedics broke into his apartment after friends were concerned and found Skilling in the bedroom with a bottle of prescription drugs by his bed.
"They were supposed to meet him for dinner and he didn't show up and they knew he was depressed over a recent break-up with a girlfriend," a Santa Ana police spokesman said.They could see him lying on the bed as they looked in the window.
John Taylor Skilling was 15 when his father was sentenced to 24 years in a federal prison.
His lawyers said that the older Skilling was devastated by the tragedy.
Friends told ABC News that the younger Skilling had not seemed depressed and were adamant that people didn't equate the death with his father's emotional state.
One close Texas friend said that they had a strong relationship.Over the years, he stuck by his Dad's side because he loved him so much.A lot of people were surprised by that.
The friend said that he was not depressed.I don't know what the drugs were for.We will find out later.I think it was an accident.The last kid to take his own life was this one.
Police said there was no suicide note and no foul play.Four to six weeks is how long it will take for toxicology tests to be completed.
Mark Madoff's death was similar to that of Skilling.The 46-year-old may have killed himself because of the disgrace of his father's conviction on charges of running an investment Ponzi scheme.
The second anniversary of his father's crimes against investors and a flurry of multi-billion-dollar civil suits coincide with his suicide.
According to psychologists, the sins of a father can have a devastating effect on a younger child's development and can eventually lead to depression or suicide.
Michael Diamond, a clinical professor, wondered about how the young man dealt with his anger toward his father and the loss of his girlfriend.
In 2006 Skilling's father was convicted of conspiracy, insider trading and securities fraud.The appeals court in New Orleans is considering his appeal.
One of the leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies collapsed in 2001 due to accounting tricks.An estimated 22,000 jobs were lost, as well as $60 billion in stock and $2billion in employee pension plans.
Daniel Petrocelli, Skilling's attorney, said that he was a wonderful young man."Jeff and his family are devastated."
We have applied for permission for Jeff to attend his son's funeral.We are waiting.
Skilling's son was the youngest of three children with Susan Lowe, who grew up with his siblings in the Houston area.
According to his Facebook page, Skilling was interested in acting, singing, painting, and power tumbling.Those who knew him said his greatest love was music.
Some people thought that Skilling's was depressed over the loss of a girlfriend, but his friends didn't think he took his own life.
Eric Smith, who was active with Skilling at Chapman Radio, said that he was an amazing guy.His show won the best new show last semester.
One of Skilling's oldest friends told ABC News that suicide was not a good idea.
"I've known him since we were 9 years old," said the Dallas, Texas, friend, who spent summers with Skilling at camp.He was the sweetest person there could ever be.This is shocking to all of us.
As Skillings' classmates began to post "RIP" on Facebook, the friend learned about the death.
He seemed to be living life and loved music.The friend said that he was a free spirit.He broke up with his girlfriend.Maybe he was looking for relief and mixed something and no one was there to help him.
He said that the shadow his dad cast over him was not fair for a kid like him.
Jeffrey Skilling said at the time of his conviction that it had been very hard on him and his family.
Dealing with a parent who has committed a crime can be devastating for a son, according to psychologists.The younger their age, the more vulnerable they are.
Ronald Levant is a professor of psychology at the University of Akron in Ohio and is an expert on father-son relationships.
He said that men tend to look at their fathers and model themselves after them.It can be hard for a man to have his ego idea discredited because they form their ideal on the perception of their father.