Friday's Internet Edition, March 12, 2010.
drug-related death
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By DAVID HEDGES
Publisher -
A Spencer man and woman were arrested Tuesday in connection with what police said was a drug-related death at the couple’s home.
Heather Dawn Marks, 34, of Spencer was found dead last November at the home of Howard “Rader” Sharp, 70, and his girlfriend, Tammy L. Anderson, 39.
Police were called to the home at 561 Spring Creek Rd. on Nov. 11. Police said Marks had been unresponsive for an hour before an ambulance was called.
Anderson and Sharp allegedly told police they had taken Marks to a drug store in Ripley earlier that day to fill a prescription for Xanax, and that she had taken several of the pills that day.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Sgt. Kevin Unger of the Roane Sheriff’s Dept., Anderson later admitted she and Marks had smoked a fentanyl pain patch that day.
Anderson allegedly told police she had flushed the pain patch down the toilet before officers arrived. Anderson said she and Sharp had taken Marks to a friend’s home to get the patch.
Anderson and Sharp were both arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor that, upon conviction, carries a maximum of a year in jail.
They were both arraigned by Roane Magistrate Jason Bennett and lodged in the Central Regional Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond while awaiting preliminary hearings.
The charges said police were still waiting on a final autopsy and toxicology report for Marks.
