The McMinn County Grand Jury has indicted Brittany Taylor Ball for conduct associated with the death of an Englewood woman in March 2015. The Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Ms. Ball with second-degree murder and the sale/delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.
Under Tennessee law, second-degree murder includes the killing of another which results from the unlawful distribution of any Schedule I or Schedule II drug, when that drug causes the user’s death.
District Attorney General Stephen Crump praised the work of the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office in investigating the case. He “Detectives with the sheriff’s office have dedicated much of their time and talent to ensuring that this case was effectively and efficiently investigated.”
General Crump also commented on the applicable portion of the second-degree murder statute. “Too many lives are cut short by the illegal distribution and abuse of dangerous drugs, and this matter serves as an important example of the tragic consequences that can result from such behavior.”
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said, “In 2014, drug overdoses were the leading cause of death among adults in Tennessee, even more than car crashes and shootings. Much of this problem is caused by people who either sell, trade, or give their pain medication to others. We as a community, a state, and a nation need to change our attitudes toward prescription pain medications. Just because a person has a prescription doesn’t mean they can share or sell their pills. This is both dangerous and illegal. And when our office sees clear evidence of such activity, we will investigate and bring charges. It simply cannot be tolerated anymore.”
Ms. Ball was taken into custody on Tuesday without incident by McMinn County deputies. She is being held at the McMinn County Jail under a $250,000 bond.