A grand jury has officially filed felony murder charges in connection with an April 2022 overdose death in Butler County.
Ruthie S. Johnson, 32, of the 2600 block of Crestwood Drive is charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder (felony murder), two Class C felony charges of delivering a controlled substance, two Class D felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and one Class E felony count of unlawful use of a weapon.
The charges stem from an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of April 10, 2022, in which Johnson allegedly caused the death of a man by giving him fentanyl. Moreover, it is believed Johnson allegedly provided the victim with what he thought was prescription pain medication — but really was a counterfeit fentanyl pill.
On the morning of April 10, 2022, Butler County Deputy Damion Smith responded to a residence on County Road 526 in reference to an unresponsive male.
“Upon arrival, (it) was apparent the individual had overdosed,” Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs told the DAR in 2022.
The victim was transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Johnson is being held at the Butler County jail on $150,000 bond.