CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brian Topping's big plans to celebrate a new addition to his family were cut short when he died of a drug overdose.
"He was planning this birthday party, even knew what kind of cake he wanted," Paula Malin, Brian's mom, said.
Their family was expecting a new baby and joy but were soon left with a lifetime of pain.
"It’s a pain I cannot even describe it hurts deep down in my soul," Malin said.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office said Brian died of an overdose in October 2023.
Topping's baby niece Gracie was robbed of the chance to ever meet her uncle Brian.
"It's such a shame that Brian didn’t get to meet her he would have been such a wonderful uncle she needed him and he is not coming back not here on this earth," Malin said.
Malin said her son was mentally challenged, but he was the brightest soul you’d ever meet.
"Anyone that ever met Brian would tell you he was the kindest soul and was everyone's friend," Malin said.
Brian is 35 forever and while Malin said she couldn’t stop her son’s death, she’s hoping to use his story to someone else’s life.
"Never say it can never happen to me because this is a crisis situation," Malin said. "I can't save my son but I hope this touches the lives of others because I don’t want any mother to go through what we have been through."
The man charged with murder for supplying drugs in this overdose death, Matthew Roop, will be in court this December.