Albert Lea Inmate Charged In Teen's Overdose Death
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 26-year-old prisoner was charged Wednesday with third-degree murder for the overdose death of an Albert Lea teen.
Dustin Charles Chenevert, also from Albert Lea, is charged with the Feb. 28 death of 18-year-old Colton Jayce Poplow, who was found dead by his father and a friend in a South St. Paul hotel room.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner says Poplow died from acute methadone toxicity after swallowing two pills on the night of Feb. 27, apparently out of fear that police were doing a search of the hotel where he was staying.
The Dakota County Attorney's office says Poplow and his friend bought at least six methadone pills and five Dilaudid pills from Chenevert, nicknamed "Dusto Busto," who had stolen them from his mother.
Poplow's father told police that before his son's death, he had been making gurgling sounds in his sleep. He woke his son up and told him to blow his nose. Poplow did so and they both went back to bed.
His father later awoke again, saw vomit and blood on his son's pillow and called 911. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The mother of Poplow's friend came to the scene and told police that her son and the deceased got pills from a classmate, which they consumed the night before.
Poplow's friend told police that he contacted Chenevert on Facebook to tell him what happened, and Chenevert allegedly told him the situation "better not come back on him." He then convinced the friend to delete their Facebook conversation.
Chenevert is currently in prison for a felony DWI offense.