DESTREHAN, La. (WGNO) – Two people charged in March with heroin distribution after a man overdosed are now facing second-degree murder charges.
According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies began investigating the death of Richard Keller Jr. on March 2. Detectives believed the death was a drug overdose and subsequently arrested Jaime Hymel and Roderick Hackett for distribution of heroin and other drug charges.
The coroner’s report, released to detectives last week, confirmed that Keller died from a lethal combination of heroin, fentanyl and alcohol.
Hackett and Hymel, who were already being held in the St Charles Parish Jail, have been re-booked on second-degree murder charges in connection with Keller’s death.
“Many believe that drug use is a nonviolent crime,” St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said. “Any activity that leads to so many deaths is anything but nonviolent.”
