By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – A Richlands man is facing a murder charge in connection with a drug overdose death. Rocky Graham Underwood, 32, of 510 Hill Creek Road was indicted by the grand jury Jan. 3 on one count of felony homicide and one count of distribution of oxymorphone.
The charges stem from the death of a 26-year-old woman, whom police allege died after taking Opana, a powerful narcotic they say was furnished to her by Underwood. Tazewell County Commonwealth’s Attorney Dennis lee said Opana is a synthetic pain killer, (oxymorphone), that is much stronger than oxycontin.
Lee said the drug is suspected in several overdose deaths in the county in recent months. He said use of that drug and other pain killers increased after oxycontin was reformulated to prevent its abuse.
Investigator Richard Brown of the Richlands Police Department investigated the case against Underwood with assistance from the Virginia State Police and the medical examiners office.
The incident occurred in 2010 and the investigation has been lengthy. Lee said Virginia law allows prosecution of the supplier in a drug overdose death even if the deceased took the drug willingly.
A conviction carries up to 40 years in the penitentiary. Richlands Police chief Frank Dorton said his department has charged Underwood with crimes in the past and that he was in the county jail at the time he was indicted on these charges.
The court docket shows previous charges of false pretense, forged checks, grand larceny and breaking against Underwood. He was incarcerated on a probation violation at the time he was indicted.
The court docket shows he is scheduled to enter a plea on the murder charge Jan. 26. He is the second person in the county to be indicted on a murder charge from a drug overdose in the last six months.
Chad Harman is also in the county jail and is awaiting a June trial. Lee said Harman is accused of supplying opana to another inmate.
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