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Release Date: October 13, 2005
Contact: Joseph I. Cassilly, State's Attorney, 410.638.3500, or Email statty@harfordcountymd.gov
NEW CHARGES PLACED IN METHADONE DEATH OF BABY
Joseph I. Cassilly, State's Attorney for Harford County, has announced that on Tuesday, October 4, 2005, the Grand Jury for Harford County returned indictments charging Kelly Jean Briggs and Elaine Marie Butler of Darlington, Maryland with Second Degree Murder, Distribution of Methadone, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methadone, Possession and Administering to Another of Methadone, Intentional Child Abuse and Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder, in connection with the death of 16 month old Ashton Timothy Preston, who is alleged to have died of an overdose of Methadone on December 15, 2004, in the Butler family home, at 1208 Castleton Road, in Darlington.
Briggs, the mother of the deceased child and Butler who was Briggs' housemate at the time of death, had been previously indicted in Harford County on June 14, 2005, for Manslaughter and related charges for what was then believed to be an accidental death stemming from alleged negligence on the part of the defendants. The State will seek to join this indictment with the later charges. The announcement of the new charges was delayed until both defendants were taken into custody on the new charges.
The investigation by the Harford County Sheriff's Office criminal investigators is continuing.
Questions on this press release should be directed to Joe Cassilly at 410-879-3204.
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